War Knight Wreck

Field Value
Wreck Category dangerous wreck
War knight Wreck Location
Marine Coordinates (DMM) 		50 39.957 N,1 31.124 W
Latitude, Longitude
Decimal Degrees
  • Latitude: 50.665950
  • Longitude: -1.518733
Wreck Depth 6.2 m
Water Depth 10 m
Water Level Effect always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum Approximate Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name WAR KNIGHT
Type steam ship
Flag GB
Length 125 m
Width 17.1 m
Draught 9.1
Sonar Length 115
Sonar Width 15
Orientation 157
Tonnage 7951
Tonnage Type gross
Cargo general and mixed goods
Conspic Visual not visually conspicuous
Conspic Radar not radar conspicuous
Date Sunk Mar 24, 1918
Bottom Texture Rock
Scour Dimensions ,,000.5,
Original Detection Year 1918
Last Detection Year 2011
Original Source national HO/authority notice to mariners
Surveying Details H3197/21 26.5.21 H3197/21 26.5.21 WK IN 503956N, 013055W. MARKED BY UNLIT G CONL BUOY. (TH EX 2107/21). CHART AS WK [OLD SYMBOL] (1917) MARKED BY G BUOY. - NM 969/21. H6963/23 11.10.23 H6963/23 11.10.23 DW NOW MARKED BY G CAN BUOY. (TH 81/23). AMEND TO DW (1917) MARKED BY G CAN BUOY. BR STD. H7588/37 23.11.37 H7588/37 23.11.37 DRIFT SWEEP CLEAR AT 22FT. (HMS FLINDERS, 11.11.37). AMEND TO WK 3FMS 4FT. - NM 2214/37. 9.9.65 9.9.65 REP'D THAT WK LIES 100YDS NE OF CHARTED POSN. WRECK DIVED ON. (MR PERRY, BSAC, 9.9.65). NCA. H744/44 3.3.44 H744/44 3.3.44 DELETE BUOY. - NM 466/44. 5.2.69 5.2.69 NOW CHARTED AS WK 3FMS 2FT [6.1MTRS] [LAT]. NE 2219. H1270/72 8.11.72 H1270/72 8.11.72 CONSIDERED WK LIES ABOUT 100YDS N OF CHARTED POSN. HOWEVER THERE IS A LARGE ROCK OUTCROP NEAR CHARTED POSN WHICH COULD BE MISTAKEN FOR THE WK. THIS OUTCROP NEVER SHOWS ABOVE WATER. THE WK IS WELL FLATTENED BUT SOME SAMSON POSTS STICK UP CLOSE TO SURFACE. WELL SALVAGED IN PAST. CURRENTLY OWNED BY LOCAL I.O.W DIVER. FROM E/S TRACE DEPTH OF ROCK IS 22FT [18FT WHEN REDUCED - TIDE] & OF WK IS 28FT [24FT LESS TIDE]. (MR R LEON, REPORT DATED 23.8.72). NCA. H4469/81 4.8.83 H4469/81 4.8.83 EXAM'D 21.6.82 IN 503954N, 013102.5W [OGB] USING TRISPONDER [2 LOP]. LEAST ES DEPTH 6.2 IN GEN DEPTH 10-11MTRS. SCOUR DEPTH 0.5MTRS. LYING NNW/SSE. LENGTH ABOUT 60MTRS, BEAM 15MTRS. (SCESU, HI 97) SHOWN IN INCORRECT POSN ON FAIR SHEET [K9156/1], TOO FAR TO THE EAST. AMEND TO WK 6.2MTRS IN REVISED POSN. BR STD. 2.2.07 2.2.07 CONTEMPORARY REPORTS IDENTIFY THE SHIP IN THIS POSN. IN ADDITION SHE IS THE ONLY MERCHANT SHIP KNOWN TO HAVE A STEAM TURBINE, WHICH CAN BE SEEN IN THE WK. (D C WENDES, SOUTH COAST SHIPWRECKS). NCA. 16.6.11 SEP 2011/000130950 16.6.11 LOCATED IN 5039.957N, 0131.124W [WGD]. LENGTH APPROX 115MTRS. LEAST DEPTH 7.2MTRS. (FATHOMS LTD, HI 1316). POOR COVERAGE. NFS. RETAIN WK 6.2MTRS IN REVISED POSN. BR STD.
Last Amended Date Jun 16, 2011

Circumstances of loss

BUILT IN 1917 BY UNION IRON WORKS, ALAMEDA, USA. OWNED AT TIME OF LOSS BY THE SHIPPING CONTROLLER. THREE BOILERS, STEAM TURBINE ENGINE, SINGLE SHAFT. PASSAGE PHILADEPHIA AND NEW YORK FOR LONDON IN CONVOY NH53. GENERAL CARGO INCLUDING FOODSTUFFS, BALES OF RUBBER AND DRUMS OF CHEMICALS. CARRRIED 999 TONS FUEL OIL. WAS IN COLLISION WITH AMERICAN S TANKER 'O B JENNINGS' WHICH WAS CARRYING A CARGO OF NAPTHA. BOTH VESSELS WERE QUICKLY ENGULFED IN FIRE. WAR KNIGHT WAS TAKEN IN TOW NEXT DAY BY A DESTROYER BUT THEN STRUCK A MINE WHICH HAD PROBABLY BEEN LAID BY GERMAN SUBMARINE UC 17. SHE WAS THEN BEACHED CLOSE INSHORE WHERE SHE WAS LATER PARTIALLY SALVAGED. (M WOODWARD, ARTICLE IN SPORT DIVER).

WRECK MAP LOADING ... 50 39.957 N,1 31.124 W
War Knight on Wreck Map War Knight Wreck on Google Map

More Steam Ship Wrecks:

Nearby Wrecks:

FAQ

Where is the WAR KNIGHT wreck located?

The WAR KNIGHT wreck is located at coordinates 50 39.957 N,1 31.124 W.

How deep is the WAR KNIGHT and where exactly is it located?

The WAR KNIGHT lies at a depth of about 6.2 meters and is located at coordinates 50 39.957 N,1 31.124 W.

How deep is the seabed around the WAR KNIGHT?

The seabed around the WAR KNIGHT lies at approximately 10 meters deep.

When did the WAR KNIGHT sink?

The WAR KNIGHT sank on Mar 24, 1918.

When was the wreck of the WAR KNIGHT discovered?

The wreck of the WAR KNIGHT was discovered in 1918.

What country did the WAR KNIGHT belong to?

The WAR KNIGHT belonged to GB.

What cargo was the WAR KNIGHT carrying?

The WAR KNIGHT was carrying general and mixed goods.

What was the tonnage of the WAR KNIGHT?

The WAR KNIGHT had a tonnage of 7951 tons.

What type of wreck is the WAR KNIGHT?

The WAR KNIGHT is classified as a steam ship.

Back to Wrecks