North Co. Donegal Wreck List
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Vessel Type:

Battleship

Location:Co. Donegal
Date of Loss:14th October 1914Place:Tory Island
Cause of Loss:MinedBoat Dive from:Falcarragh or Dunfanaghy
Charted Depth:66mIrish O.S. Map:Discovery Series No. 1
Height of Wreck:8mAdmiralty Chart No:2723 and/or 2752
Hull Material:SteelLatitude (GPS):55° 28.291' North
Type of Seabed:GravelLongitude (GPS):07° 45.101' West
Average Visibility:25m+Convert Lat. & Long. to -Decimal - CLICK HERE
Image available?Yes - see below Diving Experience:Very Experienced Tri-Mix
 
Diving Information:
  • Position is approx. 15 miles from Malin Head.
  • Lies upside-down in virtually one piece and untouched except for the bow which lies a short distance away.
  • Engine room is exposed as a result of an explosion.
  • Her four Propellors are still visible at the stern.
  • A 13 inch gun-turret lies to one side of the hull.
  • Ideally a Tri-Mix dive.
  • Lots of fish life including congers, cod and ling.
  • Dive Low Water Belfast
  • Tide is not strong.
  • Warning!! - Excessive amount of explosives lying around – shells and torpedoes.
 
Historical Information:
  • Built in 1913 by Cammell Laird & Co. Ltd, Birkenhead
  • A King George V class Super-Dreadnought Battleship, she measured 181.66 x 27.12 x 8.35metres, grossed 23,000 tons and had a crew of 900.
  • She was powered by 2 screw steam rurbines which generated 31,000hp.
  • Armoury included 10 x 13.5 inch guns, 16 x 4 inch guns, 4 x 3 pounder guns and 21 inch torpedo tubes.
  • Struck a mine laid by German liner "SS Berlin".
  • While leaving Lough Swilly at 08.45 on a gunnery exercise she struck the mine on her port side just forward of her aft engine romm bulkhead.
  • Unsuccessful attempts were made to tow her back into Lough Swilly.
  • Her crew were evacuated on to "HMS Liverpool" and the White Star liner "SS Olympic".
  • She eventually sank at 21.00.
  • No lives were lost.
  • Commander was Captain Dampier.
 
 

H.M.S. Audacious

© by kind permission of Norman Woods


 

H.M.S. Audacious

 

H.M.S. Audacious


 

H.M.S. Audacious

© by kind permission of Ian Wilson (author of "Shipwrecks of the Ulster Coast")


 

H.M.S. Audacious

© by kind permission of Leigh Bishop

 

Click HERE for INFOMAR* Side-Scan image

 

Source Publications:

"Dictionary of Disasters at Sea during the Age of Steam 1824 - 1962"
by
Charles Hocking
London Stamp Exchange 1989 - ISBN: 0948130474
"Dive" Magazine
by
Rich Stevenson (March 2001)
"Donegal Shipwrecks"
by
Ian Wilson
Impact Printing 1998 - ISBN: 094815456X
"Scuba" Magazine article
by
Darren McDonagh (November 2016)
"Shipwreck Index of Ireland"
by
Richard & Bridget Larn
Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Ltd 2002 - ISBN: 1900839970
"Shipwrecks of the Irish Coast 932 - 1997"
by
Dr. Edward J. Bourke
Edward J. Bourke 1998 - ISBN: 0952302713
"Shipwrecks of the Irish Coast 1105 – 1993"
by
Dr. Edward J. Bourke
Edward J. Bourke 1994 - ISBN: 0952302705
 
Other Sources:
*source - Geological Survey of Ireland
-
Internet (2020)
Leigh Bishop
-
www.deepimage.co.uk (2004)
Darren Milford
-
Internet (2002)
Norman Woods
-
Portstewart SAC (2000)
Stuart Ward
-
Internet (1994)

North Co. Donegal Wreck List

Last update - 13-Nov-2020

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