Simplified Wreck Survey
HMS Tourmaline Underwater Wreck Survey and Site Details. The shipwreck HMS Tourmaline is located in the North Sea off the coast of Kent near the Thames Estuary at coordinates 51 23.764 N, 1 31.132 E. Historical surveys describe the wreck as a very broken and scattered underwater contact. Recent multibeam sonar assessments confirm the wreck lies at a least depth of 13.95 meters within a general seabed depth of 15 meters. The site measures approximately 48.9 meters in length and 16.9 meters in width with an orientation of 022/202 degrees. The structure is heavily deteriorated and broken up, lying within a significant scour pit approximately 84 meters long and 0.9 meters deep. Debris from the vessel is well-spread across the seabed within the scour area. Previous investigations have noted the presence of possible submerged buoy components and small magnetic anomalies at the site. The wreck is classified as an underwater obstruction and is monitored by the UK Hydrographic Office to ensure maritime safety. These survey details provide critical depth and positioning data for navigators and maritime researchers studying wrecks in the North Sea.
Surveying Details
H0674/41 12.3.41 INS AS DW. - NM 561/41 H0674/41 28.3.44 DRIFT SWEEP AFTER DISPERSAL, CLEAR 32FT, FOUL 34FT. POSN 512345N, 013112E. (ST TUDNO, 28.3.44). H0674/41 12.4.44 AMEND TO WK 5FMS 2FT. - FNM 801/44 & NM 792/44. H0674/41 11.6.59 NOT LOCATED. (M/S SHEERNESS, 8.11.46). H0674/41 11.6.59 EXAM'D 9.48 IN 512344N, 013114E. OROPESA SWEEP CLEAR 37FT, FOUL 41FT. SURROUNDING DEPTH 50FT. LEAST E/S 43FT. (HMS SHARPSHOOTER, 9.2.49). AMEND TO WK 6FMS 1FT. - NM 2572/49. H0674/41 11.6.59 NOT LOCATED. (C IN C NORE, 14.7.49). H0674/41 11.6.59 EXAM'D 10.49 IN 512345N, 013111E. SWEPT CLEAR AT 37FT, FOUL AT 40FT. SURROUNDING SEABED 48FT. WHILST LOCATING ABOVE WK AN OBSTRUCTION WAS FOUND IN POSN 512338N, 013104E CLEAR 37FT, FOUL 40FT. (HMS SHARPSHOOTER 2.11.49). 27.1.69 AMEND TO SW 6FMS. (CHANGE OF DATUM). NE 1607. H2500/72 23.3.72 EXAMINED & CONFIRMED IN POSN 512350N, 013106E. (GPO/KH CABLE SURVEY 1971). 13.6.72 AMEND TO SW 11.0MTRS. NC 1828. H2538/79 24.10.79 EXAM'D 4.4.79 IN 512343.8N, 013113.2E [OGB] USING HIFIX/6 [2 LOP]. LEAST E/S DEPTH 14.5 IN GEN DEPTH 15MTRS. SCOUR 1MTR. DCS3 HT 1.6MTRS. BROKEN UP AND LYING IN SCOUR. BARELY PROUD OF SEABED. (HMS ECHO, HI 60C/79). CHART AS WK 13.4MTRS. BR STD. H2347/85 20.1.87 EXAM'D 11.9.86 IN 512344N, 013114E [OGB] USING TRISPONDER & HIFIX/6. LEAST E/S DEPTH 14.2 IN GEN DEPTH 14.5 TO 15MTRS. SCOUR DEPTH 15.7MTRS. BROKEN UP AND LYING IN ITS SCOUR. (NP 1016, HI 314A). AMEND TO WK 14.2MTRS. BR STD. HH090/770/01 21.9.98 EXAM'D 11.7.98 IN 512343.7N, 013114.7E [OGB] USING DGPS. LEAST E/S DEPTH 14.0 IN GEN DEPTH 15MTRS. SCOUR DEPTH 1.5MTRS. NO DCS3 HT. LENGTH 60MTRS, WIDTH 45MTRS. LIES 070/250 DEGS. SMALL MAGNETIC ANOMALY. BROKEN AND SCATTERED DEBRIS, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH LIES WITHIN ITS OWN SCOUR. SCOUR EXTENDS 20MTRS TOWARDS 250 DEGS. (NP 1016, HI 770). BR STD. 23.4.13 [WGD] POSN: 5123.762N, 0131.140E. SEP 2018/000139540 4.6.18 EXAM'D 21.12.17; WK LOCATED IN 5123.764N, 0131.132E [WGD]. LEAST M/B DEPTH 7.81MTRS. (H102 HI1519). AMEND DW 7.8MTRS IN REVISED POSN. BANM 3111/18. SEP 2018/00006184 19.7.18 EXAM'D 21.12.17; WK LOCATED IN 5123.764N, 0131.132E [WGD]. LEAST M/B DEPTH 13.95MTRS IN GEN DEPTH 15MTRS, LENGTH 48.9MTRS, WIDTH 16.9MTRS, HEIGHT 6.9TRS, ORIENTATION 022/202DEGS. SCOUR LENGTH 84MTRS, 0.9MTRS DEEP. WRECK IS A VERY BROKEN CONTACT, DEBRIS WELL SPREAD WITHIN A SCOUR. POSSIBLE SUBMERGED BUOY. (GARDLINE, HI 1519). AMEND DW 13.9MTRS IN REVISED POSN. SEP 2018/000177703 20.7.18 EXAM'D 7.7.18; IN 5123.764N, 0131.132E [WGD]. LEAST M/B DEPTH 14.28MTRS IN GEN DEPTH 14MTRS. NFS. (TRINITY HOUSE, THV ALERT, EMAIL 7.7.18). RETAIN PREVIOUS DW 13.9MTRS.
Circumstances of loss
EX-BERKSHIRE. BUILT IN 1935. PURCHASED BY THE ADMIRALTY AND ARMED IN 11.1935. ONE BOILER, TRIPLE EXPANSION ENGINE, SINGLE SHAFT. SUNK BY GERMAN AIRCRAFT.