Plympton Wreck

Field Value
Wreck Category dangerous wreck
Plympton Wreck Location
Marine Coordinates (DMM) 		49 52.836 N,6 20.854 W
Latitude, Longitude
Decimal Degrees
  • Latitude: 49.880600
  • Longitude: -6.347567
Water Depth 15 m
Water Level Effect always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum Approximate Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name PLYMPTON
Type steam ship
Flag GB
Length 95.7 m
Width 12.3 m
Draught 6.5
Sonar Length 120
Sonar Width 30
Orientation 115
Tonnage 2869
Tonnage Type gross
Cargo foodstuffs: solid
Conspic Visual not visually conspicuous
Conspic Radar not radar conspicuous
Date Sunk Aug 14, 1909
Original Detection Year 1966
Last Detection Year 1997
Original Source diver
Surveying Details H6040/59 8.11.66 H6040/59 8.11.66 IMMENSE AREA OF WRECKAGE OF TWO SHIPS COMBINED BOTH LYING IN DEEP [90FT] AND WIDE [250YDS] GULLEY RUNNING ABOUT SW/NE FROM LETHERGUS ROCKS. VESSELS ARE THE SS 'HATHOR' [SEE 21822] AND THE SS 'PLYMPTON'. THE BOWS OF THE 'PLYMPTON' ARE INTACT BUT UPSIDE DOWN THE STEM OF THE 'HATHOR' IS INTACT & UPRIGHT. NO OTHER INDIVIDUAL SECTION IDENTIFIABLE EXCEPT THE BOILERS ETC. (RNAS CULDROSE SUB AQUA CLUB REPORT, AUG '66). 20.10.69 20.10.69 MUCH REMAINS OF BOTH VESSELS THOUGH THERE IS MUCH COLLAPSE DUE TO SEA ACTION AND CORROSION. POSN GIVEN AS 160DEGS, 105FT FROM LETHEGUS ROCKS. 'PLYMPTON' UPSIDE DOWN, LYING E/W. BOWS IN 90FT, STERN IN 120FT. STERN TO E. 'HATHOR' IN N/S DIRECTION, BOWS N. STERN IS OVER 'PLYMPTON' BOWS IN 65FT, STERN IN 110FT. (RAF ST ATHAN SUB AQUA CLUB REPORT, JUL '69). 2.10.70 2.10.70 REPORT AGREES WITH REPORT DATED JUL '69. NATURAL COLLAPSE HAS OCCURRED AND LARGE SECTIONS OF UNDER SIDE OF VESSEL ARE STILL INTACT. (REPORT DATED JUL '70). H2568/71 22.3.72 H2568/71 22.3.72 CENTRE POSN OF WKS FIXED, USING HSA, IN 495248N, 062048W [OGB] BY FT LT RAY, RAF SUB AQUA CLUB, FOR HMS HECATE SURVEY. THEY LIE ACROSS ONE ANOTHER APPROX AT RIGHT ANGLES, BOW OF 'PLYMPTON' ABOUT 40FT ABOVE SEABED [PROBABLY ABOUT 140FT] BUT AREA FOUL GROUND. LEAST DEPTH 90FT [27.4 MTRS] AT BOWS OF 'PLYMPTON' [NW] AND 75FT OVER STERN OF 'HATHOR'. SHOALEST DEPTH IN THE VICINITY IS 17MTRS. 'PLYMPTON', UPSIDE DOWN, LIES WNW/ESE BOWS TO WEST. 'HATHOR' LIES NNE/SSW, BOWS SOUTH, 'PLYMPTON' BOWS IN 90FT STERN IN 120FT. 'HATHOR' BOWS IN 135FT STERN IN 75FT. (HMS HECATE, R-OF-S [K6299/2] 15.1.72 AND 3.8.72). INS AS 2 DWP WITH LEGEND 'WRECKS'. BR STD. H3227/74 3.1.74 H3227/74 3.1.74 'PLYMPTON' UPSIDE DOWN & VIRTUALLY INTACT. 'HATHOR' UPRIGHT WITH BOWS ACROSS STERN OF 'PLYMPTON'. A LOT OF SALVAGE WORK HAS TAKEN PLACE. BOWS RISE IN A PYRAMID 35FT HIGH. IRON ANCHOR STILL IN HAWSEPIPE. (RAF SUB AQUA EXPEDITION 1974). H1280/76/24 29.1.76 H1280/76/24 29.1.76 REPORTED POSN 495248.6N, 062047.4W [OGB]. THE 'PLYMPTON' LIES UPSIDE DOWN ON THE BOTTOM; IS VIRTUALLY INTACT ALTHOUGH SOME COLLAPSE HAS TAKEN PLACE. THE STERN RISES 20FT FROM THE SEABED AND THE IRON PROPELLER IS STILL IN PLACE. THE 'HATHOR' LIES UPRIGHT AND HER FRONT SECTION LIES ACROSS THE UPSIDE DOWN STERN END OF THE 'PLYMPTON'. A LOT OF NATURAL COLLAPSE AND SOME SALVAGE WORK HAS OCCURRED PARTICULARLY IN THE MIDDLE SECTION OF THE WRECK, THE BOWS RISE IN A KIND OF PYRAMID SHAPE 35FT FROM THE SEABED TO A DEPTH OF 100FT. A HUGE IRON ANCHOR IS STILL IN THE HAWSEPIPE. THE WRECKS ARE A HAZARD TO SMALL VESSELS ANCHORING IN THE AREA. (RAF HONINGTON SUB AQUA EXPEDITION REPORT, 1-15.8.75). NCA. REPD SOLD TO WESTERN OIL EXPLORATION SERVICES LTD. (BSAC WK REGISTER, VOL V). 28.6.01 28.6.01 EUT POSN: 4952.836N, 0620.854W. NE 883. HH100/351/19 18.2.03 HH100/351/19 18.2.03 DIVED 7.9.97, LEAST DEPTH OVER WK 35MTRS, MAXIMUM DEPTH OVER WK 41MTRS. (J ROSEVEARE, E-MAIL DTD 16.2.03) NCA, NO STATE OF TIDE DETAILS GIVEN. HH100/351/21 12.7.04 HH100/351/21 12.7.04 POSN OF POINT OF HIGHEST MAGNETIC ANOMALY USING DGPS: 4952.841N, 0620.829W [WGD]. (J ROSEVEARE/G FURSE TELECON 12.7.04) NCA.
Last Amended Date Jul 28, 2010

Circumstances of loss

PASSAGE VILLA CONSTITUTION FOR DUBLIN VIA FALMOUTH. WENT ASHORE IN THICK FOG.(CORNISH SHIPWRECKS VOL 3). PASSAGE ROSARIO FOR DUBLIN. STRUCK LETHEGUS IN FOG, STAYED ON ROCKS FOR A WHILE BUT SLIPPED OFF AND OVERTURNED AT LOW WATER. (ISLES OF SCILLY MUSEUM PUBLICATION NO.3 AND RAF ST ATHAN SUB AQUA CLUB REPORT JUL '70). BUILT IN 1893 BY FURNESS, WITHY & CO. OWNED AT THE TIME OF LOSS BY LAMBERT BROS. PASSAGE FROM ROSARIO, VIA FALMOUTH, TO DUBLIN. WRECKED ON ST AGNES. (DODS).

General Comments

INTACT, INVERTED

WRECK MAP LOADING ... 49 52.836 N,6 20.854 W
Plympton on Wreck Map Plympton Wreck on Google Map

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FAQ

Where is the PLYMPTON wreck located?

The PLYMPTON wreck is located at coordinates 49 52.836 N,6 20.854 W.

How deep is the seabed around the PLYMPTON?

The seabed around the PLYMPTON lies at approximately 15 meters deep.

When did the PLYMPTON sink?

The PLYMPTON sank on Aug 14, 1909.

When was the wreck of the PLYMPTON discovered?

The wreck of the PLYMPTON was discovered in 1966.

What country did the PLYMPTON belong to?

The PLYMPTON belonged to GB.

What cargo was the PLYMPTON carrying?

The PLYMPTON was carrying foodstuffs: solid.

What was the tonnage of the PLYMPTON?

The PLYMPTON had a tonnage of 2869 tons.

What type of wreck is the PLYMPTON?

The PLYMPTON is classified as a steam ship.

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