Vanguard (Hms) Wreck

Field Value
Vanguard (hms) Wreck Location
Marine Coordinates (DMM) 		53 12.778 N,5 46.312 W
Latitude, Longitude
Decimal Degrees
  • Latitude: 53.212960
  • Longitude: -5.771870
Name VANGUARD (HMS)
Type battleship
Date Sunk Sep 1, 1875
Original Source Annual Register for 1875. Rivingtons, Waterloo Place, London, 1876. p. 79-81; Brady 2008, 385-6; Brady et al 2012, 34-5; Cairns 1986, 57-59; de Courcy Ireland 1983, 92; Featherston 1995, 30-32; Freeman's Journal, Aug 31st 1876; GSI Wreck Data; Hocking 1989 (1969), 732-3; ILN 20th September 1875; Lloyd's List 19, 146, Fri. Sept. 3rd 1875; Lloyd's List 19, 166, Mon. Sept. 27th 1875; Lloyd's List 19, 284, 12th February 1876, 386; Lloyd's List 19, 284, Sat. Feb. 12th 1876; Paine 2001, 121-9; PP 1876 LXVII, 52; Stokes 2000, 27-31; UKHO Wreck Data 1996.
WRECK MAP LOADING ... 53 12.778 N,5 46.312 W
Vanguard (Hms) on Wreck Map Vanguard (Hms) Wreck on Google Map
Wreck No: W02099, Place of Loss: Wicklow, Bray Head, 12 miles E by N, Source of Coordinate: GSI_255, Description: The HMS Vanguard was one of four Audacious class, ironclad battleships built by Cammel Laird & Co. at Birkenhead, England, at a cost of £355,000. The 6,034-ton vessel was powered by steam and sail and was capable of attaining speeds up to 14 knots. The 6-inch-thick iron hull was reinforced along its waterline and an iron ram was attached to the bow below the waterline. Her armoury included both 6-inch and 9-inch guns. It was completed in September 1870 and commissioned into service as a guardship at Kingstown (now Dún Laoghaire). On 1 September 1875 the Vanguard, under the command of Captain Richard Dawkins, went to sea on manoeuvres with five other ironclad battleships of the Reserve Squadron of the Channel Fleet and the yacht Hawk. Shortly after departing Kingstown for Queenstown (now Cobh), Co. Cork, the formation encountered thick fog and the Vanguard was accidentally rammed by her sister ship, HMS Iron Duke. As water flowed into the damaged battleship, her internal compartments were incapable of containing the flow and she began to sink. The boiler furnaces were soon extinguished, depriving her of power, and within an hour the Vanguard sank. Fortunately, no lives were lost in this incident as the 360 men on board managed to get safely into lifeboats and board the Iron Duke. The Iron Duke, with its bow damaged, returned to Dún Laoghaire. Nine days later a court martial was quickly convened on board the HMS Adelaide, during which Captain Dawkins and four of his officers were severely reprimanded for failing to save the ship. Limited salvage work was carried out on the wreck and attempts by the British Admiralty to raise it came to nothing due to difficult and dangerous diving conditions. The wreck of the HMS Vanguard measures 93m in length, 14m in width and 15m in maximum height. The vessel lies E–W on a sandy seabed in a general sea depth of 45m and lists slightly towards her starboard side. In conditions of good visibility – most commonly experienced early in the diving season, in May – the Vanguard is one of the most spectacular shipwrecks in Ireland. The wreck is very intact, but has broken its back aft of the box battery, where there is a 2m split, and sits with a list of 30 degrees to starboard. The damage caused by the Iron Duke’s ram is clearly visible on the port side forward of the box battery, and coal is strewn around the seabed in this area. The stump of the mainmast leads out into the scour pit to starboard. When she was first dived in the 1980s, it was possible to enter the main deck through the break and swim all the way aft and exit through the officers’ quarters, but now the top deck has collapsed down and slid to starboard, which has also caused the 2m port gunwales to collapse. On the collapsed aft top deck the remains of the helm position, which once held very intact 2m teak and brass wheels and the capstan, are also prominent. The port Griffiths screw – a very early and strange-looking propeller design – is well worth a visit. Its starboard partner is now nearly buried under sand and collapsing wreckage down in the scour, at 50m. In the box battery itself some of the main deck 9-inch muzzle-loaders are visible if you venture into the break, but a number have now collapsed down into the bowels of the wreck. The most easily seen are the two oblique firing guns on the port top deck of the battery, at around 35m. Forward the 2m gunwales are still intact and a 64lb chaser gun and an anchor are to be found on the port bow. The bow itself is majestic in good visibility, with the underwater ram clearly visible, below the point of which sits another enormous anchor. UKHO wreck no. 009100209. Wreck chart symbol wk 21.5 m. GSI_247 --------------------------------

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FAQ

Where is the VANGUARD (HMS) wreck located?

The VANGUARD (HMS) wreck is located at coordinates 53 12.778 N,5 46.312 W.

When did the VANGUARD (HMS) sink?

The VANGUARD (HMS) sank on Sep 1, 1875.

What type of wreck is the VANGUARD (HMS)?

The VANGUARD (HMS) is classified as a battleship.

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