Simplified Wreck Survey
HMS ALERT Underwater Wreck Site Survey Details and Historical Data. The wreck of HMS ALERT is located in the Goodwin Sands area off the coast of Kent, England, at coordinates 51 20.695 N, 001 37.738 E [WGS84]. Historical survey records indicate the site has been subject to multiple inspections since 1945, revealing that the vessel is now in a broken-up and partially buried state. The most recent hydrographic examinations confirm the wreck lies in a general depth of 19 meters with a least multibeam depth of 16.65 meters. Structural measurements of the debris field indicate a wreck length of approximately 52.6 meters and a width of 21.3 meters, with a vertical height of 2.4 meters. The site exhibits a distinct scour pattern measuring 41 meters in length and 1.7 meters in depth, oriented towards 130 degrees. The wreckage is aligned on a 170/350 degree axis. Previous surveys note that the wreckage is scattered across the seabed, consistent with a vessel that has deteriorated over time due to the dynamic nature of the Goodwin Sands environment.
Surveying Details
H01278/45 30.3.45 DW IN 512036N, 013801E MARKED BY G CONL LT BUOY FLG10S. (TH). - NM 944/45. H01278/45 9.3.50 DISPERSED TO 47FT. (C-IN-C NORE, 9.3.50). H01278/45 18.6.45 AMEND TO WK 1FMS 5FT IN 512030N, 013800E. (ADMIRALTY). - NM 1666/45. H01278/45 23.5.50 WK LOCATED IN 512036N, 013800E USING DECCA. OROPESA SWEEP 21.4.50 CLEAR AT 45FT. LEAST E/S DEPTH 54FT IN GEN DEPTH 58FT. (HMS SHARPSHOOTER, 5.5.50). AMEND TO WK 7FMS 3FT & DELETE LT BUOY. - NM 963/50. H932/50 1.12.52 POOR A/S CONTACTS OBTAINED IN 512036N, 013801E USING DECCA. GENERAL DEPTH 60FT. SEA BED SLIGHTLY UNEVEN, MUD AND SAND. NO SCOUR. (HMS FRANKLIN, 1.12.52). NCA. 13.6.72 NOW CHARTED AS WK 13.7MTRS. NC 1828. H2538/79 5.4.79 NO SIGN OF WK IN PREVIOUSLY CHARTED POSN. SONAR CONTACTS CLOSE N INDICATED WKGE SCATTERED ON SEABED, BUT NO DEFINITE CONTACT. SMALL WK LOCATED & EXAMINED 6.9.78 ABOUT 2 CABLES NW IN 512044N, 013740E USING HIFIX [2 LOP], MAY BE PART OF THIS WK. LEAST E/S DEPTH 16.6 IN GEN DEPTH 18MTRS. DCS3 HT 1.7MTRS, LENGTH 18.0 MTRS. LYING 070/250DEGS. (HMS EGERIA, HI 63/78). AMEND TO WK 16.0MTRS IN 512044N, 013740E. R/P. HH090/610/01 2.3.95 EXAM'D 5.12.94 IN 512041.6N, 013744.1E [WGD] USING DGPS. LEAST E/S DEPTH 16.8 IN GEN DEPTH 19MTRS. NO SCOUR. NO DCS3 HT. SCATTERED OVER APPROX 50MTRS AROUND A SANDWAVE. IS 1MTR PROUD OF THE SIDE OF THE SANDWAVE WITH THE DEBRIS BEING SPREAD IN A 120/220DEGS DIRECTION. NOT SWEPT DUE TO SANDWAVE CLOSE BY. RETAIN CHARTED DEPTH. (HMS BEAGLE, HI 610). RETAIN CHARTED DEPTH IN REVISED POSN. BR STD. HH090/681/01 21.9.95 EXAM'D 24.7.95 IN 512041.7N, 013744.1E [WGD] USING DGPS. SWEPT CLEAR 15.9MTRS, NOT FOULED. LEAST E/S DEPTH 16.8 IN GEN DEPTH 19MTRS. SCATTERED OVER AREA OF SOME 200MTRS SQUARE. LEAST DEPTH TAKEN FROM PIECE OF DEBRIS TO THE S OF THE AREA WHICH IS 1MTR PROUD OF THE SEABED. STRONG MAGNETOMETER DEFLECTION OVER ALL OF THE AREA. (HMS BEAGLE, HI 681). AMEND TO SW 15.9MTRS. BR STD. SEP 2015/000235800 18.11.15 EXAM'D BY BDC, IN 5120.695N, 0137.737E [WGD]. LEAST M/B DEPTH 16.8MTRS. LENGTH 35MTRS, WIDTH 23.5MTRS, HT 2.7MTRS. NFS. (CEFAS, DS37, GOODWIN SANDS 2014). RETAIN PREVIOUS DEPTH, POSN AMENDED. SEP 2018/000061842 18.7.18 EXAM'D 22.12.17; WK LOCATED IN 5120.695N, 0137.738E [WGD]. LEAST M/B DEPTH 16.65MTRS IN GEN DEPTH 19MTRS, LENGTH 52.6MTRS, WIDTH 21.3MTRS, HEIGHT 2.4MTRS, ORIENTATION 170/350DEGS. SCOUR LENGTH 41MTRS, 1.7MTRS DEEP, TOWARDS 130 DEGS. WRECK IS BROKEN UP AND PARTIALLY BURIED. (GARDLINE, HI 1519). AMEND DW 16.6MTRS IN REVISED POSN.
Circumstances of loss
BUILT IN 1918 BY SWAN HUNTER, WIGHAM RICHARSON LTD, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE FOR THE POSTMASTER GENERAL. HIRED BY THE ADMIRALTY IN 1940. ONE BOILER, TWIN TRIPLE EXPANSION ENGINES OF 106HP, TWIN SHAFT. SANK, CAUSE UNKNOWN.