Irish Wrecks On-Line - Vanguard HMS (No. 997)

*Vessel Type:*	Ironclad Battleship	*Location:*	Co. Dublin
*Date of Loss:*	1st September 1875	*Place:*	Bray Head
*Cause of Loss:*	Collision	*Boat Dive from:*	Bray
*Charted Depth:*	49m	*Irish O.S. Map:*	Discovery Series No. 50
*Height of Wreck:*	15m	*Admiralty Chart No:*	1415
*Hull Material:*	Iron on wood	*Latitude (GPS):*	53 12.804 North
*Type of Seabed:*		*Longitude (GPS):*	05 46.313 West
*Average Visibility:*	4m +	*Diving Experience:*	Experienced

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Diving Information:

Lies in a North-South direction East of Bray Head on a hard packed bottom.
She is virtually intact with large sections of the hull that can be entered. Care is needed.
Visibility is usually quite poor.
Best dived 1 hour before High/Low water.
Warning!! This wreck is protected under the National Monument Act, and is owned by Eugene Houlihan, Co. Limerick. An Office of Public Works (OPW) License is required to dive it.

Historical Information:

Built in 1870 by Cammel Laird, Birkenhead for the Royal Navy, she grossed 6,034 tons and measured 280 x 54 x 16ft. and was powered by sail and steam driven double bladed twin screws.
The hull was iron on 8 inch teak planking, her armament consisted of 10 x 9inch guns and 4 x 6inch MLR guns.
While in convoy from Dunlaoghaire to Cork in fog, she was rammed by "H.M.S. Iron Duke" and sank in less than an hour.
There was no loss of life.

Source Publications:

"Dictionary of Disasters at Sea during the Age of Steam 1824 - 1962"

by
Charles Hocking

London Stamp Exchange 1989 - ISBN: 0948130474

"Irish Wrecks Database"

by
Roy Stokes & Liam Dowling

"Shipwreck Index of Ireland"

by
Richard & Bridget Larn

Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Ltd 2002 - ISBN: 1900839970

"Shipwrecks of the Irish Coast 1105 – 1993"

by
Edward J. Bourke

Edward J. Bourke 1994 - ISBN: 0952302705

Other Sources:

Marlin SAC

-
Internet (1999)

Last update - 07-Feb-2006