Richard Montgomery Wreck

Field Value
Wreck Category wreck showing any portion of hull or superstructure
Richard montgomery Wreck Location
Marine Coordinates (DMM) 		51 27.982 N,0 47.1 E
Latitude, Longitude
Decimal Degrees
  • Latitude: 51.466367
  • Longitude: 0.785000
Water Depth 15 m
Water Level Effect covers and uncovers
Vertical Datum Approximate Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name RICHARD MONTGOMERY
Type steam ship
Flag US
Length 128.9 m
Width 17.4 m
Draught 10.7
Tonnage 7176
Tonnage Type gross
Cargo armament
Conspic Visual not visually conspicuous
Conspic Radar not radar conspicuous
Date Sunk Aug 15, 1944
Bottom Texture Mud
Original Detection Year 1944
Last Detection Year 1991
Original Source naval vessel
Markers N, S, E & W SPL BUOYS, ALL LIT Y
Surveying Details H04222/44 7.11.44 ST, WITH BACK BROKEN, IN 512757N, 004712E OR 074DEGS, 2.67M FROM WATER TR (GRAIN CONSPIC). POSN BY HSA. (ST TUDNO, 11.10.44). - NM 2416/44. H03210/44 15.6.45 WK LOADED WITH BOMBS. (NORE LIST). H04222/44 25.10.46 GPFL(3)G.10S LT ESTABLISHED ON WK. (TH HARWICH). - NM 3588/46. H04222/44 10.1.53 WK, MARKED BY UNLIT CAN WK BUOY 000DEGS, 0.75C FROM WK, & LIT CONL WK BUOY, GPFL(3)10S, WITH AUTOMATIC BELL EVERY 10S, 180DEGS, 0.5C FROM WK. (TH, 8.1.53). H04222/44 30.1.53 G CAN BUOY LAID 004DEGS, 0.6C FROM LT OM WK. G CONL LT BUOY, GPFL(3)G.10S, BELL, 15S LAID 176DEGS, 400FT FROM LT ON WK. LT ON WK TO BE WITHDRAWN. (PORT OF LONDON). - NM 177/53. H3789/61 2.11.61 WK IS US VESSEL WHICH WAS CARRYING BOMBS & DETONATORS ETC. (GF 11). NCA. H2984/67 25.5.65 DETAILED DRAWINGS OF WK BY DIVERS. (CSO S. COAST SURVEY, DTD 25.5.65). H3789/61 12.7.66 STF IN 512757N, 004712E WITH G CAN LT BUOY, GPFL(2)G.10S CLOSE N; G CONL LT BUOY, GPFL(3)G.10S, BELL 15S CLOSE S. PROHIBITED AREA RADIUS 750FT. (MCB NM 17/66, & JOINT MEDWAY NM). - NM 1307/66. H1118/61 21.7.66 N BUOY AMENDED TO G CAN LT BUOY, GPFL(2)G.10S. (MEDWAY NM 18/66). BR STD. H3789/61 1.9.67 FOG SIG ON S BUOY NOW NAUTO 15S. (MEDWAY NM 31/67). - NM 1645/67. H2984/67 12.9.67 WK IS VISIBLE AT ALL STATES OF TIDE & MARKED BY LT BELL BUOY TO S & BLIND BUOY TO N. 1948 SURVEYED BY SCOTT. 1952 VERY DETAILED SURVEY BY PLA SHOWED WK TO HAVE SETTLED ON HARD BOTTOM WITH DEEP SCOUR HOLES IN AND AROUND WK. SURVEYS SINCE 1952 HAVE BEEN LIMITED TO ROUTINE SURVEYS, ALTHOUGH WK HAS BEEN EXAMINED TO CHECK ANGLE OF LIST & STATE OF MASTS & DERRICKS. (HM MEDWAY). H3560/68 16.7.68 PROPOSALS TO PROTECT WK FROM ACCIDENTAL COLLISION, DISCUSSION OF METHODS. 16.11.70 MR ANTHONY GRANT, (UNDER SECT FOR TRADE & INDUSTRY), SAID IN HOUSE OF COMMONS ON 10.11.70, PROTECTION OF WK BY BLOCKSHIPS WAS NOT FEASIBLE. OTHER FORMS OF BARRIER WERE STUDIED. (LL, 11.11.70). H1329/70 23.12.70 LATEST SURVEY ROUND WK INDICATES IN 3 PARTS. MASTS STILL SHOWING, SUGGEST 3 MASTS ARE INDICATED ON CHARTS. (MEDWAY AUTHORITY SURVEY [K5981]). NC 3683. H2543/69 14.9.72 NO VESSEL TO NAVIGATE WITHIN 700FT WITHOUT PERMISSION. (PLA NM 13/72). H3560/68 3.7.73 G SPH LT BUOYS, INT QKFL.G.10S E & W OF WK, IN 053DEGS 12360FT, & 049DEGS 11320FT FROM GARRISON PT RO MT ESTABLISHED. (MEDWAY 14/73). - NM 1433/73. H3874/71 2.10.73 POSNS OF BUOYS CONVERTED FROM NG COORDS. N BUOY: 512804N, 004711.7E. E BUOY: 512757.6N, 004722.5E. S BUOY: 512750.6N, 004710.9E. W BUOY: 572758.3N, 004701.1E. WK IS ACTUALLY IN 3 PARTS. (AUTHORITY NOT STATED). NC 3683. H3954/70 8.11.73 AREA BETWEEN FOLLOWING POSNS [OGB] DECLARED A PROHIBITED AREA ON ACCOUNT OF EXPLOSIVES CONTAINED IN THE WK: 512804N, 004712E; 512757N, 004722E; 512750N, 004711E; 512758N, 004701E. (STATUTORY INSTRUMENT 1690/73). NC 3683. H1429/74 9.5.74 LATEST SURVEY SHOWS 3 SMALL SPH BUOYS LAID IN LINE BETWEEN EACH MAIN LT BUOY. (MCB, K 5981). H1270/74 20.5.80 SURVEY 1979 REVEALED WK IN STABLE CONDITION. FURTHER DIVING SURVEY TO BE CARRIED OUT IN 1980. (LL 20.12.79). NCA. H1429/80 3.11.80 SURVEYED 13.6.80. 3 MASTS STILL SHOW. LEAST E/S DEPTH ON N. SECTION IS 1.6MTRS. ON S SECTION:- DRIES 5.6MTRS. (MEDWAY PORTS AUTHORITY SURVEY [K5981/9]). NCA. H1427/81 2.4.82 SURVEYED 14.10.81. 3 MASTS STILL SHOW. N SECTION DRIES 1.4 MTRS. S SECTION: N PART DRIES 3.6MTRS, S PART DRIES 1.6MTRS. (MEDWAY PORTS AUTHORITY SURVEY [K5981/10]). 31.7.84 DEPT OF TRANSPORT STATES WK IS STABLE. DIVING SURVEY BY ROYAL NAVY IN JULY 1983 SHOWED THAT SHELLS & BOMBS ARE NOW EMBEDDED IN THICK MUD. (GUARDIAN & LL, 4/7.5.84). 17.3.88 MPA SURVEY 22.3.84 [NOT SEEN IN WKS SECTION], SHOWS WK LIES IN 2 MAIN PARTS ON ITS STARBOARD SIDE. ITS BOW IS COVERED WITH BETWEEN 3-8MTRS OF WATER AND THE STERN WITH BETWEEN 1- 8MTRS. THE CENTRAL SECTION OF STERN IS DRYING UP TO 3.2MTRS. 2 MASTS ON BOW SECTION, 1 ON STERN. NE 3683. 6.2.92 SURVEYED AGAIN SEPT '91. NO EVIDENCE OF RECENT MAJOR CHANGES. SILT AROUND WK SITE IS MOBILE AND EXTENSIVE SCOURING UNDER WK WAS OBSERVED. NO ATTEMPT TO BE MADE TO CLEAR WK OR ITS CARGO. SITE WILL CONTINUE TO BE MONITORED AND WILL REMAIN PROHIBITED AREA UNDER 1973 PROTECTION OF WRECK ACT. (HANSARD, VOL.202, NO.47, 24.1.92). NCA.
Last Amended Date May 27, 2014

Circumstances of loss

25.9.44 BUILT IN 1943 BY ST JOHN'S RIVER SHIPBUILDING CO, JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. OWNED AT TIME OF LOSS BY THE AMERICAN BUREAU OF SHIPPING. TWO BOILERS, TRIPLE EXPANSION ENGINE OF 250HP, SINGLE SHAFT. PASSAGE THE DELAWARE RIVER FOR CHERBOURG. (?NEW YORK FOR SHEERNESS. (LIBERTY SHIPS)). CROSSED THE ATLANTIC AS PART OF CONVOY HX-301 AND ARRIVED SOUTHEND IN AUGUST 1944, WHERE SHE WAS PLACED UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE THAMES NAVAL CENTRE ON SOUTHEND PIER (HMS LEIGH). KHM ORDERED THE SHIP TO ANCHOR OFF THE N EDGE OF SHEENESS MIDDLE SAND. THIS LOCATION WAS CRITICISED BY THE MASTER, BUT HE WAS ORDERED TO REMAIN IN THAT POSITION DUE THE NATURE OF THE CARGO. ANCHORED AND GROUNDED AT LOW WATER, HOGGED AND BROKE HER BACK. ORIGINAL CARGO OF 6862 TONS BOMBS & MUNITIONS. SOME CARGO SALVAGED AND ON CESSATION OF WORK ON 25.9.44 THE FOLLOWING REMAINED: 1667 TONS LOOSE GEN PURPOSE BOMBS (GP); 1435 TONS SEMI-ARMOURED PIERCING BOMBS (SAP); 173 TONS CLUSTER FRAGMENTATION BOMBS; 107 TONS WHITE PHOSPHEROUS SMOKE BOMBS; 36 TONS OTHER EXPLOSIVES; 134 TONS NON-EXPLOSIVES. (SIBI & OTHERS).

General Comments

WK IN TWO PARTS

WRECK MAP LOADING ... 51 27.982 N,0 47.1 E
Richard Montgomery on Wreck Map Richard Montgomery Wreck on Google Map

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FAQ

Where is the RICHARD MONTGOMERY wreck located?

The RICHARD MONTGOMERY wreck is located at coordinates 51 27.982 N,0 47.1 E.

How deep is the seabed around the RICHARD MONTGOMERY?

The seabed around the RICHARD MONTGOMERY lies at approximately 15 meters deep.

When did the RICHARD MONTGOMERY sink?

The RICHARD MONTGOMERY sank on Aug 15, 1944.

When was the wreck of the RICHARD MONTGOMERY discovered?

The wreck of the RICHARD MONTGOMERY was discovered in 1944.

What country did the RICHARD MONTGOMERY belong to?

The RICHARD MONTGOMERY belonged to US.

What cargo was the RICHARD MONTGOMERY carrying?

The RICHARD MONTGOMERY was carrying armament.

What was the tonnage of the RICHARD MONTGOMERY?

The RICHARD MONTGOMERY had a tonnage of 7176 tons.

What type of wreck is the RICHARD MONTGOMERY?

The RICHARD MONTGOMERY is classified as a steam ship.

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