Simplified Wreck Survey
Underwater Wreck Details for the Hartlepool (Part Of). This historic shipwreck is located off the coast of Weymouth in the English Channel at coordinates 50 36.448 N, 2 25.867 W. Following salvage and dispersal operations involving heavy explosives, the wreck site is now characterized as an area of foul ground containing scattered wreckage. Modern hydrographic surveys describe the site as a debris field covering an area approximately 80 meters square with a structural height of 1.1 meters above the seabed. The wreckage includes significant structural remains and large fragments. Recent multibeam sonar surveys confirm a least depth of 9.15 meters within a general surrounding depth of 9.8 meters. The site exhibits a strong magnetic anomaly and includes isolated debris fields, including large iron or steel components and structural ribs. Divers and survey vessels have previously noted that the area may contain remnants of ammunition and entangled fishing gear, which can complicate identification and height measurements. The wreck is a known navigation hazard for mariners in the vicinity of the Dorset coast.
Surveying Details
H2891/42 4.9.42 ST IN 503626N, 022549W. (ADMIRALTY). - NM 1914/42. H2891/42 7.3.47 MARKED BY G CAN BUOY, GPFL(2)G.10S, 035DEGS, 0.75C OF WK. (C-IN-C PORTSMOUTH). - NM 593/47. H2891/42 22.11.48 SWEDISH BAR SWEEP AFTER SALVAGE AND DISPERSAL. LEAST DEPTH 28FT IN GEN DEPTH 29FT. PORTIONS HAVE BEEN DISPERSED A CONSIDERABLE DISTANCE FROM THE MAIN PART OF WK BY HEAVY EXPLOSIVE CHARGES USED. FRAGMENTS OF THE WK ARE BURIED IN THE BOTTOM AND UNLESS DISPERSAL WORK BELOW SEA BED IS CARRIED OUT NO BETTER CLEARANCE CAN BE EXPECTED. PORTIONS OF THE WKGE, 1-2FT ABOVE SEABED, REMAIN WITHIN THE FOLLOWING AREAS, WHICH SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS FOUL GROUND. BEARING AND DISTANCES FROM THE NOTHE FLAGSTAFF [503623N, 022634W]: [A] 083.5DEGS, 3160FT; [B] 088.5DEGS, 3180FT; [C] 097.5DEGS, 3030FT; AND [D] 086DEGS, 2750FT. POSN OF MAIN PORTION OF WK 503627N, 022547W. TRACING HELD. (FSL GULNARE & SCES, DTD 16.10.48). AMEND TO WK 4FMS 4FT & DELETE BUOY. - NM 2566/48. H2891/42 18.5.60 EXAM'D BY SHALLOW WATER DIVER. MAIN PORTION OF WK IN 503626N, 022547W CONSISTS OF TANGLED PLATES, ETC., APPROX 40FT X 10FT IN AREA. LEAST E/S DEPTH 28FT IN GEN DEPTH 32FT. SCOUR [BELIEVED TO BE THE DEMOLITION CRATER] IS 5FT DEEP. THE SMALLER PORTION IN 503625N, 022546W IS A STRONG BACK, OR SIMILAR GIRDER, PROJECTING 4FT ABOVE SEABED. LEAST E/S DEPTH 30FT IN GEN DEPTH 34FT. (FSL MEDA, DTD 9.5.60). SEE OTHER PORTION [18673] IN 503624N, 022545W. 15.1.82 STAND 2.5MTRS HIGH IN GEN DEPTH 17MTRS. AMMUNITION IN AREA. (BSAC WK REGISTER, VOL.4). H2928/83 24.2.88 EXAM'D 3.10.86 IN 503626.5N, 022552W [OGB] USING TRISPONDER [4 LOP]. LEAST E/S DEPTH 8.0 IN GEN DEPTH 9-9.5MTRS. SCOUR 0.5MTR DEEP. DIVERS REPORT WIDE AREA OF DEBRIS AT LEAST 100FT RADIUS AROUND CENTRAL PIT CONTAINS LARGE FRAGMENTS INCLUDING 2 ANCHORS AND RIBS OF THE WK ENTANGLED FISHING NETS AND ROPES MAKE IDENTIFICATION AND HEIGHTING DIFFICULT. (HMSML GLEANER, HI 207). INS AS WK 8.0MTRS. - NM 838/88. 5.11.05 EUT POSN: 5036.476N, 0225.946W. NE 2268. HH091/154/01 - SEP 2010/000005843 4.1.10 LOCATED 23.2.09 IN 5036.448N, 0225.867W [WGD] USING DGPS. LEAST M/B DEPTH 9.15 IN GEN DEPTH 9.8MTRS. SCOUR 0.4MTR DEEP. COVERS AREA 80MTRS SQUARE, HT 1.1MTR. STRONG MAGNETIC ANOMALY. A NUMBER OF FEATURES LOCATED WITHIN 40MTRS OF QUOTED POSN WITH AN ISOLATED OBJECT, 9.25MTRS ON TOP, AT 5036.443N, 0225.835W. (FUGRO OSAE, HI 1154). NO CONTACT LIES AT PREVIOUS POSN. (SDC BATHY, EXAMINATION OF DIGITAL DATA FOR HI 1154). AMEND WK 9.1MTRS IN REVISED POSN. BR STD.
Circumstances of loss
BUILT 1932 BY W GRAY & CO LTD, WEST HARTLEPOOL. TORPEDOED BY E BOAT. BOW WAS SALVAGED AND NEW STERN FITTED IN 1941. [SEE 18673]. DISPERSED BY EXPLOSIVES, VERY BROKEN AND SCATTERED. (SIBI).
General Comments
AREA OF DEBRIS, SEE ALSO [18673]