Simplified Wreck Survey
Underwater Wreck Details: Landing Craft Wreck Near Littlehampton South Coast UK Coordinates 50 38.801 N 0 30.956 W Historical and hydrographic survey records from the UK Hydrographic Office document a submerged tank landing craft wreck located off the south coast of England near Littlehampton at coordinates 50 38.801 N, 0 30.956 W. Originally reported in 1970 as a relatively recent sinking of an upright and intact landing craft with its doors open facing Littlehampton, subsequent multi-beam and hydrographic surveys by vessels including HMS Fox, HMS Bulldog, and MMT have charted its gradual structural degradation over the decades. Modern bathymetric surveys record the wreck lying in a general depth of 20 meters with a least depth of 16 meters. The vessel measures approximately 48.8 meters in length, 13.8 meters in width, and stands with a height of 4 meters oriented on a 018/188 degree axis. While historically described as intact, recent structural descriptions note that the wreck is now degraded, featuring flattened wheelhouse and stern structures, a collapsed hull near the bow, and the tank embarking and disembarking ramp remaining in the open position.
Surveying Details
H1245/70 9.12.70 WK OF LANDING CRAFT BELIEVED TO LIE IN 503841N, 003130W. LOOKS LIKE QUITE A RECENT SINKING, SOME 10 YEARS AGO OR SO. UPRIGHT AND INTACT WITH DOORS OPEN, FACING LITTLEHAMPTON. HAS BEEN STRIPPED OF ALL NON-FERROUS METAL. (BSAC BRIGHTON & WORTHING, LTR DTD 8.12.70). NCA. H1270/72 29.8.72 TANK LANDING CRAFT IN 503900N, 003045W USING DECCA. STANDS UPRIGHT, LIES N/S. COMPLETELY INTACT. HEIGHT 20FT. (MR DILLINGHAM, 13.6.72). INS AS WK 7FMS 0FT [12.8MTRS]. - NM 1901/72. H3958/73 15.8.73 LOCATED IN 503853.5N, 003048W IN ABOUT 66FT. (KELVIN HUGHES). AMEND TO USC 15MTRS. NC 1652. H3950/70 7.12.73 POSN & DEPTH CONFIRMED. SWEPT CLEAR 42FT. (TH, 13.11.73). AMEND TO SW 12.8MTRS. BR STD. H4121/76 14.1.77 LOCATED 7.9.76 IN 503846N, 003052W [OGB] USING HIFIX [2 LOP]. LEAST E/S DEPTH 13.9 IN GEN DEPTH 19-20MTRS. DCS3 HT 5.2MTRS. LENGTH 67MTRS. ORIENTATION NE/SW. (HMS FOX, HI 52/76). RETAIN PREVIOUS SWEPT DEPTH IN REVISED POSN. BR STD. H2318/74 5.6.79 EXAM'D 2.11.78 IN 503846.9N, 003051.9W [OGB] USING TRISPONDER. SWEPT CLEAR 13.9MTRS, FOUL 14.6MTRS. (HMS BULLDOG, HI 37B/77). AMEND TO SW 13.9MTRS IN REVISED POSN. - NM 1491/79. HH091/002/01 22.10.02 EXAM'D 26.7.02 IN 5038.811N, 0030.952W [WGD] USING DGPS. SWEPT CLEAR 16.2, FOUL 16.4MTRS. LEAST E/S DEPTH 16.1 IN GEN DEPTH 20MTRS. NO SCOUR. LENGTH 40MTRS, WIDTH 20MTRS. LIES 060/240 DEGS. NO MAGNETIC ANOMALY. (NP 1016, HI 1002). INTACT. AMEND TO SW 16.1MTRS. BR STD. SEP 2018/000198963 13.08.18 EXAM'D 06.02.18; IN 5038.801N, 0030.956W [WGD]. LEAST M/B DEPTH 16MTRS IN GEN DEPTH 20MTRS, LENGTH 48.8MTRS, WIDTH 13.8MTRS, HEIGHT 4MTRS, ORIENTATION 018/198 DEGS. UPRIGHT BUT DEGRADED, WITH THE WHEELHOUSE &STERN STRUCTURES FLATTENED &THE HULL NEAR THE BOW COLLAPSED. THE TANK EMBARKING/DISEMBARKING RAMP IS IN THE OPEN POSITION. (MMT, HI 1498). AMEND DW 16MTRS IN REVISED POSN.
General Comments
UPRIGHT, DEGRADED, BOW S.