Hms Drake Wreck

Field Value
Wreck Category dangerous wreck
Status historic
Hms drake Wreck Location
Marine Coordinates (DMM) 		55 17.107 N,6 12.516 W
Latitude, Longitude
Decimal Degrees
  • Latitude: 55.285117
  • Longitude: -6.208600
Wreck Depth 8.6 m
Water Depth 12 m
Water Level Effect always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum Approximate Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name HMS DRAKE
Type cruiser (merchant)
Flag GB
Length 161.2 m
Width 21.6 m
Draught 7.9
Sonar Length 161.5
Sonar Width 40.6
Shadow Height 4
Orientation 128
Tonnage 14100
Tonnage Type displacement
Conspic Visual not visually conspicuous
Conspic Radar not radar conspicuous
Date Sunk Oct 2, 1917
Bottom Texture Sand
Scour Dimensions ,,004.0,
Original Detection Year 1917
Last Detection Year 2017
Original Source unknown
Markers S CARD, Q(6)+LFL 15S, 'DRAKE', CLOSE SE.
Surveying Details H6180/17 15.10.17 WK IN 551709N, 061235W, MARKED BY CONL LT BUOY, FL.G ABOUT 1C NE OF WK. (AUTHORITY NOT STATED). - FNM 642/17. H7744/17 28.12.17 BUOY MOVED TO POSN 1C SW OF WK. (AUTHORITY NOT STATED). - FNM 40/18. H2773/19 27.6.19 BUOY NOW G CONL [UNLIT]. (AUTHORITY NOT STATED). - FNM 1252/19. REPORTS STATE THAT SALVAGE AND DISPERSAL OPERATIONS HAVE BEEN IN PROGRESS SINCE 1918. (CP 5121/18, 2034, 6367, 31754/25) REPORT THAT INSPECTION OF SITE TO BE MADE. (CP 13901/25). CHART AS DW. H4483/25 INSPECTION REPORT STATES PORTION OF WK, ABOUT 20YDS LONG, PROJECTS ABOVE WATER. PROBABLY BILGE KEEL. (C.P. 16879/25). NCA YET, IN VIEW OF SALVAGE OPS, & AMOUNT OF WK VISIBLE. H10/30 7.3.30 BUOY NOW REPD 0.25M SSE OF WK. BANGOR CG, 7.3.30). NCA. H35/40 29.6.40 LETTER FROM CP TO THE DIRECTOR OF SCRAP SUPPLIES RE PARTICULARS OF WRECK. H816/42 14.4.42 BUOY NOW G CAN. (AUTHORITY NOT STATED) H816/42 23.12.55 BUOY NOW LIES 231DEGS, 1.9M FROM ALTACARRY LT. (COMMISSIONERS OF IRISH LIGHTS). - NM 3096/55. 27.10.64 THE COMMISSIONERS OF IRISH LIGHTS HAVE TAKEN POSSESION OF WK. (LL, 27.10.64 & N/CP 55273/69). H1718/63 10.6.66 SWEPT CLEAR 3FT, FOUL 5FT. LEAST E/S DEPTH 9FT IN GEN DEPTH 43FT. SCOUR DEPTH 56FT. FIXED BY HSA. (HMS MERMAID, 1/65, 25.5.65). NC 2723. 29.5.70 SOLD TO METRIC SALVAGE LTD, SHIPBREAKING QUEENBOROUGH LTD. SUB CONTRACT TO SOUTH OCEAN SERVICES. SALVAGE TAKING PLACE MAY 1970. (TELECON COM FOSNI/WKS 29.5.70). IRISH LIGHTS STILL RETAIN OWNERSHIP. 2.5.74 WK UPSIDE DOWN. 25FT DEEP AT BOWS, 60FT AT STERN. UPPERWORKS AND CASEMENTS CORRODED EXPOSING EXPLOSIVES TO BE SALVAGED BY FOSNI DIVERS. (AUTHORITY NOT STATED). H1270/71 17.2.76 BUOY NOW IN 551657N, 061228W. (AUTHORITY NOT STATED). BA 2798. H1718/63 16.3.76 ALL ACCESSIBLE EXPLOSIVES NEAR WRECK SITE AND IN AFTER PART OF WK WERE RECOVERED AUG 1974. MOD ASSUMED OWNERSHIP OF WK FROM COMMISSIONERS OF IRISH LIGHTS IN SEP'74. (LOOSE MINUTE N/NL 405/74). H1270/72 21.2.77 BUOY REPLACED BY R CAN IN 551657N, 061228W. (IRISH LIGHTS NM 2/77). BR STD. 28.4.77 EXPLOSIVES EITHER SALVAGED OR COUNTERMINED BY NAVAL SALVAGE TEAM. WK REPORTED NOW AS LESS HAZARDOUS TO NAVIGATION. HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY RECOMMENDED. (FOSNI). 26.9.78 DIVING SURVEY CARRIED OUT OCT 1977. WK NOW A TANGLED HEAP OF TWISTED STEEL COVERED THICKLY WITH KELP. ONLY SMALL SECTION AMIDSHIPS AND RIGHT FORWARD BEAR ANY RESEMBLANCE TO A HULL. NO EVIDENCE OF WK SILTING UP. LEAST DEPTH 20FT [LAT]. (FOSNI, O.259/29, 25.10.77). OIL CLEARANCE OPERATIONS ON WK OF ELLA HEWITT REPORTED TO HAVE LEFT PARTS OF WK JUST 10FT BELOW SURFACE. (LL, 23.9.78). AWAIT FURTHER REPORT. NCA. 11.2.88 POSN OF WK NOT AS CHARTED. LIES IN TWO PARTS. (M PRITCHARD, HOLLAND, 1988 BOAT SHOW). H5093/83 24.1.89 S CARD BUOY IN 551700N, 061224.5W NOW NAMED 'DRAKE WRECK'. (IRISH LIGHTS, 20.12.88). BR STD. HH288/470/01 2.9.92 BUOY MARKING WK IS NOW S CARD LT BUOY. (NATIONAL RNW COORDINATOR, DUBLIN, TELEX 24.8.92). NCA YET. HH288/470/01 21.9.92 BUOY LT CHARACTERISTIC : Q(6)+LFL.15S. (COMM. IRISH LIGHTS, 27.8.92). - NM 2907/92. 1.2.00 SHALLOWER PARTS OF WK OBSCURED BY LONG FRONDS OF RED KELP ATTACHED TO STEEL PLATES. (DIVER MAGAZINE FEB'00). 20.11.04 [EUT] POSN: 5517.133N, 0612.550W. NC 2494. HH288/470/04 23.3.06 LOCATED 25.10.05 IN 5517.11N, 0612.51W [WGD]. LEAST M/B DEPTH 8.6MTRS. STANDS 3MTRS ABOVE THE SEABED. BUOY TO BE RETAINED IN POSN DUE TO THE USE OF THE BAY BY CRUISE SHIPS. (ILV GRANUAILE, VIA COMMISSIONERS OF IRISH LIGHTS LTR DTD 2.12.05). NO REFERENCE IN THE REPORT WAS MADE OF THE 'ELLA HEWETT', RECORD [3633] AMENDED TO DEAD. AMEND WK 8.6MTRS IN REVISED POSN. RETAIN BUOY. - NM 1995/06. HH091/240/01 18.5.09 EXAM'D 19.2.08 IN 5517.107N, 0612.516E [WGD] USING DGPS. LEAST M/B DEPTH 10.09 IN GEN DEPTH 14.0MTRS. NO SCOUR. LENGTH 161.5MTRS, WIDTH 40.6MTRS, HT 4.0MTRS. LIES 128/308 DEGS. (FUGRO OSAE, HI 1240). NCA. 10.8.17 'HMS DRAKE' IN 5517.107N, 0612.516W [WGD] HAS BEEN DESIGNATED A 'HISTORIC WRECK' UNDER THE HISTORIC MONUMENTS AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL OBJECTS (NORTHERN IRELAND) ORDER 1995. 150MTR RESTRICTED ZONE AROUND THE WK EXISTS. (RORY MCNEARY, HISTORIC IRELAND E-MAIL DTD 2.8.17). AMEND HISTORIC.
Last Amended Date Aug 10, 2017

Circumstances of loss

BUILT IN 1901 BY PEMBROKE DOCK SHIPBUILDING CO, PEMBROKE DOCK. 43 BOILERS, TWO 4 CYLINDER TRIPLE EXPANSION ENGINES FOR 30,000 NHP, TWIN SHAFT. HAD JUST COMPLETED AN ESCORT DUTY WHEN TORPEDOED BY U 79. SOUGHT SHELTER IN CHURCH BAY, RATHLIN TO TRANSFER CREW. CAPSIZED LATER SAME DAY. 19 OF 900 CREW LOST. (SII & SHIPWRECKS OF THE IRISH COAST VOL.2, SRN). NO LOSS OF LIFE. (DDOS).

General Comments

WK LIES UPSIDE DOWN. 150m Restricted Zone attached.

WRECK MAP LOADING ... 55 17.107 N,6 12.516 W
Hms Drake on Wreck Map Hms Drake Wreck on Google Map

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FAQ

Where is the HMS DRAKE wreck located?

The HMS DRAKE wreck is located at coordinates 55 17.107 N,6 12.516 W.

How deep is the HMS DRAKE and where exactly is it located?

The HMS DRAKE lies at a depth of about 8.6 meters and is located at coordinates 55 17.107 N,6 12.516 W.

How deep is the seabed around the HMS DRAKE?

The seabed around the HMS DRAKE lies at approximately 12 meters deep.

When did the HMS DRAKE sink?

The HMS DRAKE sank on Oct 2, 1917.

When was the wreck of the HMS DRAKE discovered?

The wreck of the HMS DRAKE was discovered in 1917.

What country did the HMS DRAKE belong to?

The HMS DRAKE belonged to GB.

What was the tonnage of the HMS DRAKE?

The HMS DRAKE had a tonnage of 14100 tons.

What type of wreck is the HMS DRAKE?

The HMS DRAKE is classified as a cruiser (merchant).

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