Hms Vanguard Wreck

Field Value
Wreck Category dangerous wreck
Status historic, Not Fully Surveyed
Hms vanguard Wreck Location
Marine Coordinates (DMM) 		58 51.437 N,3 6.404 W
Latitude, Longitude
Decimal Degrees
  • Latitude: 58.857283
  • Longitude: -3.106733
Wreck Depth 14.2 m
Water Depth 30 m
Water Level Effect always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum Approximate Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name HMS VANGUARD
Type battleship
Flag GB
Length 171.6 m
Width 25.6 m
Draught 8.2
Sonar Length 277
Sonar Width 187
Shadow Height 14.4
Orientation 160
Tonnage 19250
Tonnage Type displacement
Conspic Visual not visually conspicuous
Conspic Radar not radar conspicuous
Date Sunk Jul 9, 1917
Original Detection Year 1917
Last Detection Year 2017
Original Source published World War 1 losses
Markers E CARD, VQ(3)5S, 200MTRS E.
Surveying Details H809/56 26.1.56 WRECK CONSISTS OF DEBRIS SCATTERED OVER WIDE AREA. (CINC ATLANTIC FLEET). ORIGINALLY CHARTED BY NM 2198/21, BUT NOT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED. H3402/59 29.6.59 INS AS PROHIBITED AREA ON NC 2179. H622/61 28.6.61 NUNDY MARINE METALS REPORTED TO BE STILL WORKING ON WK. ALTHOUGH A GREAT DEAL HAS BEEN RECOVERED IT HAS NOT BEEN ENTIRELY DEMOLISHED, BUT DUE TO DEPTH OF WATER CERTAINLY CONSTITUTES NO DANGER TO SHIPPING. (KINCK & RICHARDSON, SOLICITORS CP56924/60). H622/61 5.9.61 CONTRACT EXTENDED TO 1.5.63. (DNC). 28.9.70 SALVAGE TO TAKE PLACE AT INTERVALS DURING NEXT FIVE YEARS. (NUNDY MARINE METALS) 21.3.74 CENTRE OF WK 585126N, 030620W, EXTENDING ABOUT 400FT N BY W & S BY E. LEAST DEPTH NEAR SOUTHERN END 62FT, & ON NORTHERN END 84FT. FOUL AREA EXTENDING APPROX 1000FT E BY N, 3000FT W BY S & 1000FT S FROM CENTRE. (HUNTING SURVEYS [K6864/17]). H2017/72 19.8.74 INS DWP, CENTRED ON 585126N, 030620W, WITH DEPTH 14FMS ON N & 10FMS 2FT ON S END, ALSO F AREA. - NM BLOCK 1550/74. 12.9.75 A DETAILED INVESTIGATION BY COMMAND CLEARANCE DIVING TEAM CONFIRMS THAT WK WAS BLOWN APART BY ORIGINAL EXPLOSION WHICH DESTROYED VIRTUALLY ALL EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE ON BOARD. STERN SECTION OF WK LARGELY UNDAMAGED & CONTAINS AFTER 18 INCH TORPEDO ROOM, WHICH CONTAINS PRESUMABLY TORPEDO WARHEADS. A LIGHT SCATTERING OF LOOSE CORDITE STICKS ON SEABED ARE NO THREAT AND CAN BE LEFT IN SITU. ONE APPROX 12 INCH SHELL TO BE REMOVED FROM WRECKAGE, FOR DISPOSAL, 15-19 SEP '75. TORPEDO WARHEADS IN STERN SECTION POSE POTENTIAL THREAT TO OCCIDENTAL PIPELINE, CONSIDER UNWISE TO DISTURB IN VIEW OF PROBABLE DETERIORATION. MOD WARNS SALVAGE COMPANY & OCCIDENTAL OF PROBABLE PRESENCE OF WARHEADS IN STERN SECTION LOCATED IN 585126N 030612W AND DANGER OF SALVAGE OPERATIONS IN THAT VICINITY. (FOSNI, SIGNAL DTD 9.9.75 TO MOD NAVY, QHM ROSYTH, C IN C FLEET, HYDRO. FOR INFO). H622/61 21.10.77 SALVAGE RIGHTS FOR PERIOD ENDING 31.12.82 SOLD TO SCAPA FLOW SALVAGE LTD. (DNC LTR DC11(1)/CP53529/75, DTD 15.7.77) 2.12.77 CENTRE POSN AMENDED TO 585127.8N, 030620.8W, WITH DEPTHS 18.9 & 25.6MTRS. NC 35. 23.11.79 SHOWN AS DWP 18.9MTRS ON NCS 2568, 2162. H2962/81 2.5.81 INS E CARD BUOY, VQ(3)5S IN 585127.3N, 030608.3W. - NM 934/81. H2962/81 5.5.81 DEPTH 14.9MTRS REPD OVER WK IN 585127.7N, 030620.05W. (ORKNEY ISLANDS COUNCIL). - PNM 1099/81. H4282/81 16.9.81 LEAST DEPTH WITHIN MAIN AREA OF WRECKAGE 14.2MTRS IN 585127N, 030621W. (RACAL-DECCA SURVEY LTD, JUN '81). AMEND TO DWP 14.2MTRS IN 585127N, 030621W. - NM 2309/81. 16.7.82 SHOWN AS DWP WITH DEPTHS OF 14.2 & 18.9MTRS, WITH BUOY ON NC 2581. H2962/81 22.3.84 BUOY NOW CARRIES NOTICE INDICATING WK IS A WAR GRAVE. (D/NLC/63/1/25). HH268/440/05 27.9.02 DESIGNATED AS PROTECTED MILITARY WRECK WITH RESTRICTED AREA RADIUS 200MTRS CENTRED ON 5851.400N, 0306.405W [WGD]. (STATUTORY INSTRUMENT 1761/02). - NM 5104/02. SEP 2006/000394419 30.10.06 STATUTORY INSTRUMENT 1761/02 CANCELLED. REDESIGNATED AS PROTECTED MILITARY WRECK WITH RESTRICTED AREA RADIUS 200MTRS CENTRED ON 5851.400N, 0306.405W [WGD]. (STATUTORY INSTRUMENT 2616/06). NCA. 28.4.08 PREVIOUS SI CANCELLED. REDESIGNATED AS PROTECTED MILITARY WRECK WITH RESTRICTED AREA RADIUS 200MTRS CENTRED ON 5851.400N, 0306.405W [WGD]. (STATUTORY INSTRUMENT 950/08). NCA. 1.2.10 PREVIOUS SI CANCELLED. REDESIGNATED AS PROTECTED MILITARY WRECK WITH RESTRICTED AREA RADIUS 200MTRS CENTRED ON 5851.400N, 0306.405W [WGD]. (STATUTORY INSTRUMENT 3380/09). NCA. 16.6.17 PREVIOUS SI CANCELLED. REDESIGNATED AS PROTECTED MILITARY WRECK WITH RESTRICTED AREA RADIUS 200MTRS CENTRED ON 5851.425N, 0306.445W [WGD]. (STATUTORY INSTRUMENT 147/2017). RSDRA2025000126343 03.04.25 LOCATED IN M/B DATASET 2023. LEAST M/B DEPTH 15.27MTRS. DEEPER THAN CHARTED. NFS. (ORKNEY ISLAND COUNCIL, M/B SURVEY, DTD 2023). RETAIN DW 14.2MTRS IN REVISED POSITION.
Last Amended Date Jun 3, 2025
Limits

Circumstances of loss

BUILT IN 1909 BY VICKERS. A DREADNOUGHT BATTLESHIP. BABCOCK BOILERS, TURBINE ENGINES OF 24500IHP FOR 22 KNOTS. TEN 12 INCH, EIGHTEEN 4 INCH AND FOUR 3 PDR GUNS. THREE TORPEDO TUBES. SANK AFTER INTERNAL EXPLOSIONS WHILE ANCHORED 1M NNE OF FLOTTA. LOSS CONSIDERED TO BE CAUSED BY DETERIORATION OF STOCKS OF HIGH EXPLOSIVES. OF COMPLEMENT OF 670, 3 WERE SAVED OF WHOM ONE DIED LATER.

Limits: features shown as areas and not points

WRECK MAP LOADING ... 58 51.437 N,3 6.404 W
Hms Vanguard on Wreck Map Hms Vanguard Wreck on Google Map

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FAQ

Where is the HMS VANGUARD wreck located?

The HMS VANGUARD wreck is located at coordinates 58 51.437 N,3 6.404 W.

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

The HMS VANGUARD lies at a depth of about 14.2 meters and is located at coordinates 58 51.437 N,3 6.404 W.

How deep is the seabed around the HMS VANGUARD?

The seabed around the HMS VANGUARD lies at approximately 30 meters deep.

When did the HMS VANGUARD sink?

The HMS VANGUARD sank on Jul 9, 1917.

When was the wreck of the HMS VANGUARD discovered?

The wreck of the HMS VANGUARD was discovered in 1917.

What country did the HMS VANGUARD belong to?

The HMS VANGUARD belonged to GB.

What was the tonnage of the HMS VANGUARD?

The HMS VANGUARD had a tonnage of 19250 tons.

What type of wreck is the HMS VANGUARD?

The HMS VANGUARD is classified as a battleship.

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