[37] The AUWE later became infamous for espionage infiltration, known as the Portland Spy Ring.[38]. The wreck, carrying a general government cargo, sits upright on the bottom. In 1944 emplacements were constructed to replace the 12-pounder guns with 6-pounders. [24] Onshore amenities included a range of storehouses, workshops and office buildings. [22] On 4 November 1914 Hood was scuttled in Portland harbour to block the Southern Ship Channel, a potential access route for U-boats or for torpedoes fired from outside the harbour. These plans were not carried through, however a floating dry dock was introduced in 1914, enabling Portland to function as a repair and refit facility,[4] and by 1914 Portland was officially listed as a Naval Dockyard (remaining so until 1959). With a long maritime history, the Portland coastline and harbour has seen many kinds of ships sail through its waters. This is the areas most interesting and colourful shore dive but is tide dependent. Boats shuttle out and in for harbour dives allowing you to rest, de-gas and fill up in between dives. Despite her 1914 scuttling, the Royal Navy included Hood on its sale list in both 1916 and 1917. [34], During both World War I and II, the bay was filled with neutral ships at anchor waiting to be searched for materials that might be useful to the enemy. Two of these were mounted in the bow below the waterline, four were placed in the sides of the hull, two on each broadside, and one in the stern. This British armed tug was sunk by accident while towing a target in August 1946 and now lies on a shingle seabed uprights and intact. The Portland Harbour Revision Order 2010 provides for the creation of new berths and hardstand areas at the port in order to allow increased commercial activities over the next 50 years. a detailed report on this accident can be read by clicking here. During World War II a number of anti-invasion structures were placed at Balaclava Bay, including an anti boat landing obstacle,[81] and a minefield. By the First World War the 12-pounder guns had been removed and replaced with a 6-inch breech-loading (BL) Mk. Aside from the training of Royal Navy ships, many ships of NATO countries also trained and frequented at the harbour. Commercial activities on the land of the dock estate include fuel storage, natural gas storage, several engineering facilities and a shell fish specialist. Today, Salsette lies on her port side in 45m with her starboard rail around 32m. THE WRECK WHICH WAS SOLD FOR 1. HE THOUGHT HE WAS ON THE NORTH COAST OF FRANCE. The Bombardon Unit is a star shaped barges with lots of hatches. Sunk in December 1944. Please click here to go to the Home page and here to go to the Navigation page, Please click on the name of a ship to see pictures of that shipwreck. She collided with a Norwegian ship in 1889 and sank, now lying on a sand and shingle seabed. Apart from the usual freshwater, fuel, shore power and pump-out facilities the marina also has a bar/restaurant, 15 retail/business units and 5 larger commercial units. Portland Harbour is home to several sites for wreck-dives, and STUART PHILPOTT never tires of exploring one of the most popular. The battleship Russell relieved Hood on 28 September 1904. a detailed report on this accident can be read by clicking here. This 653 ton Belgian steamship sank as result of a torpedo attack in March 1918. The exhibit explores efforts to prevent disaster through the development of lighthouses and other aids to navigation. This is a British MFV that sank while being towed to Poole and is now pretty much broken up. Torch Recommended. There are many shallow and deep? SHE WAS DEMOLISHED WITH EXPLOSIVES IN 1904. on the inside of the harbour, against a breakwater: the Spaniard - barge 50 metres south-west of the Chequered Fort, This page was last edited on 30 April 2023, at 05:30. As an Admirality armed trawler the Arfon sank in 1917 when she hit a mine. to Lyme Bay and further out in the English Channel. Both seacocks and explosives were used to sink her, but she rolled to port and capsized onto seabed. 25-32m RANGE: M2 submarine, Aeolian Sky, Binnedijk, Alex Van Opstel, St. Dunstan. Torch Recommended. Better still, the premises boasts a number of additional facilities from rinsing showers to drying rooms, toilets and excellent cafe, even on-site accommodation if you want to stay local. MADELAINE (MAGDALENE) TRISTAN BEACHED AT CHESIL COVE SEPTEMBER 1930 FRENCH SCHOONER OF LORIENT. WRECK ON CHESIL BEACH (DOROTHEA) FEBRUARY 14TH 1914. This area is marked with the large yellow buoys after the Hood entrance to the harbour and has a maximum depth of about 25 metres with a straight bottom layout. [50], East Weare Battery was built in the 1860s to protect the harbour. Be careful in poor visibility as it is easy to find oneself in the wreck without even knowing it! WebPortland harbour wrecks accessible by boat only. This 200 bucket dredger was used as a mine sweeper and was sunk by a mine in 1917. Advertisement. [57][58] At the top of the Incline Road is the abandoned Old Engine Shed that once served the cable-operated inclined railway that ran to Castletown through the Navy Dockyard that is now Portland Port. as well as the dozens of hermit and spider crabs. [9], The ship was armed with four 32-calibre BL 13.5-inch Mk IIV guns in two twin gun turrets, one fore and aft of the superstructure. [40], The Harbour is the fourth largest as of 2016[update] human-made port in the world, after the Port of Jebel Ali in Dubai, the Ras Laffan Harbour in Qatar and the Cherbourg Harbour in France. [87], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}503506N 22642W / 50.585N 2.445W / 50.585; -2.445. [13][14] On the end of the inner breakwater was the Inner Pierhead Fort, and on the outer breakwater the circular Breakwater Fort. However, it is tidal. She was built in 1918 as a K-boat and in 1927 she was converted to carry a light sea plane in a hangar in front of the conning tower. This 80 MFV was last heard of in 1974 and all crew were lost. This article is about the harbour in England. Declared a total loss in April 1945. It is naturally protected by Portland to the south, Chesil Beach to the west and mainland Dorset to the north. Tide flow in this area can give divers a drift of up to 2 knots. Portland Port Ltd, formed in December 1994, took possession of the site immediately and their purchase was completed on 12 December 1996. Declared a total loss in April 1945. It is a must-do for any new visitor to Portland and a dive we regularly repeat ourselves over the season. Features include an easily [10] The breakwaters were declared complete by HRH Edward the Prince of Wales on 10 August 1872. bournemouth. Measuring 200 in length it was partly salvaged. The sea bed, heavily silted, is littered with bottles, cups and plates with other oddities. [20], Later in 1911, Hood was towed to Portsmouth and listed for disposal. She is approximately 240 long and with a 29 beam she lies upright on the bottom making an excellent dive for novice and experienced alike. The wreckage is pretty much broken up. [18] She participated in combined exercises with the Channel Squadron and the Cruiser Squadron off the coasts of Cephalonia and Morea in late 1902. She displaced 14,780 long tons (15,020t) at normal load and 15,588 long tons (15,838t) at deep load. This is a 1500 ton Norwegian steamship, torpedoed in May 1918. The Dredger lies right outside of Portland Harbour within the shelter of Balaclava bay, right in front of the large winch and many anchors that can be spotted from see. A DETAILED HISTORY OF THIS SHIP AND ITS MISHAPS CAN BE READ BY CLICKING HERE. VII gun. WebFate: Sunk 04 November 1914 as a blockship for southern entrance to Portland Harbour, designed to stop U-boats entering or firing torpedoes into Channel Fleet anchorage. Located as it is inside the breakwater, the wreck is well-protected from wind and waves. This pre-World War MTB destroyer sank while being towed back to Portland after being used as a target for battleship practice and taking two direct hits on her guns. [4], Hood's protection used both compound armour and nickel steel armour. Below the armoured deck their armour was reduced to 11 inches (279mm). General History Group created on November 15, 2013. [2] The Royal Sovereigns had reverted to a higher freeboard after several classes of low-freeboard vessel had been constructed, the last being the Trafalgar class. Nearly 400 souls were lost on her. Eight water-tube boilers provided steam to the engines, which produced a maximum of 11,000 indicated horsepower (8,200kW) when forced. [15] On Weymouth's side of the harbour, the Nothe Fort was built at the end of the Nothe Peninsula, and completed in 1872. Frequent visitor John Liddiard reveals his route. Portland Harbour is located beside the Isle of Portland, Dorset, on the south coast of England. The wreck was blown by explosives to clear the way for the Winfrith pipeline. The squadron, which formed in February 1897, bombarded insurgent forces, put sailors and marines ashore to occupy key cities, and blockaded Crete and key ports in Greece, actions which brought organized fighting on the island to an end by late March 1897. WebStrong ebb currents pushing against the opposing forces of the ocean can build enormous swells in a very short time, threatening to overcome unprepared ships crossing the river bars. This vessel was a sand dredger and makes an excellent dive both for training and as? SUNK BY COLLISION WITH A TORPEDO DESTROYER IN PORTLAND ROADS. It is badly silted and fairly broken up but is full of marine life and swim-throughs with part of the vessel still intact, making it an excellent second dive of the day. The arm is known as the Bincleaves Groyne. At the same time the above-water torpedo tubes were removed. VII gun. Frequent visitor John Liddiard reveals his route. In 1924, Portland's Anti-Submarine School (having been consolidated with similar units from HMS Vernon and HM Signal School, Portsmouth) was commissioned as HMS Osprey, becoming an independent shore command. The Countess has three holds that are open on either side, a number of attractions from a large rudder to ladders and even a toilet bowl! Can be very prolific sea life. [70], On the North Eastern Breakwater, within the centre area, is a World War II coastal battery with coast artillery searchlights. WebDespite weather warnings (which the captain may or may not have received), the ship headed northeast out of the harbor on a track to Portland, Maine. the ss bournemouth wrecked on rocks near portland bill 1886. all 160 passengers were rescued. This Norwegian steamer carried a cargo of coal when it was torpedoed in December 1917 and sunk. Topedoed by a German sub in December 1944, towed into Worbarrow and beached. The combined closure of all Portland-based establishments was believed to have cost the area 4,500 jobs, along with a loss of 40 million in the area's economy, according to a study carried out for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council in 1995. This British submarine was sunk as a target after colliding with the HMS Hazard. bournemouth. [2] It consists of four breakwaters two southern and two northern. [24] Before being installed on the battlecruiser, the bell was inscribed around the base with the words: "This bell was preserved from HMS Hood battleship 18911914 by the late rear admiral, The Honourable Sir Horace Hood KCB, DSO, MVO killed at Jutland on 31st May 1916. Other causes of shipwrecks include mechanical failure and rough coastal weather on unforgiving rocky shores. 215 TONS, 123X22FT. Despite its shallow depth, because it can be dived in almost any weather conditions and the lure of the wreck itself, the Dredger is even regularly visited by technical divers who use it as a platform for training. It is badly silted and fairly broken up but is full of marine life. This was seen as a vindication of the barbette/high-freeboard design in the rest of her class, and all subsequent British battleship classes had high freeboard. [45], The Harbour was sold off by the Royal Navy in 1996 allowing it to be used as both a centre for water sports and as a service facility for Channel shipping. In its entirety, the Harbour is an ecosystem of very high importance including a number of nationally important habitats and species. Advertisement. There are dozens of popular recreational dive sites accessible from Portlandand literally hundreds of wrecks around the island as well as in the Channel. For a great review and drawing of the Landing Craft and Bombardon Unit, dont miss the article in the January 2014 issue of Diver magazine by John Liddiard and Max Ellis. Visible Anyone can find this group. STEAM TRAWLER B2 "TURENNE". [11] As a measure against submarine attack, the battleship HMS Hood was scuttled across the harbour's southern entrance in 1914. AN ACCOUNT OF THIS WRECK CAN BE READ BY CLICKING. In May 1896, Hood steamed from Malta to Crete to protect British interests and subjects there during unrest among Cretan Greeks who opposed the Ottoman Empires rule of the island. [31] In July 1940, the anti-aircraft ship HMS Foylebank was attacked by Stuka dive-bombers and sank in the harbour. [49] The outer breakwater is also Grade II Listed. TRIPLE-EXPANSION ENGINE. However, the area is notoriously dangerous, with areas such as Portland Race and The Shambles requiring sailors to be wary due to strong tides and rocky shores. Torch Recommended. Hood, the last of the eight Royal Sovereign-class battleships to be built, differed significantly from the other ships of her class in that she had a forward freeboard of only 11feet 3inches (3.43m) compared to 19feet 6inches (5.94m) of the other ships. She served most of her active career in the Mediterranean Sea, where her low freeboard was less of a disadvantage. [5] Prompted by the expansion of the French naval port of Cherbourg, just across the Channel, the Royal Navy established a base at Portland in 1845 and a scheme for the harbour to be transformed into a refuge was granted parliamentary approval the year before. Royal Sovereign-class battleship of the Royal Navy scuttled in Portland Harbour, Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in 1902, Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in November 1914, Modern naval gun turrets are essentially a barbette enclosed by a rotating gunhouse, a very different concept from the older style of turret that, The completely enclosed armoured shields around the turrets were known as barbettes for some years after their introduction, but they werent barbettes as we know them today, "Conserved HMS Hood Bell Rings Out 75th Anniversary of Largest Ever Royal Navy Loss", List of pre-dreadnought battleships of the Royal Navy, Table Mountain National Park Marine Protected Area, Bullhead Point Historical and Archeological District, Maritime Heritage Trail Battle of Saipan, List of shipwrecks in the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001905545/, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=HMS_Hood_(1891)&oldid=1148381342, Victorian-era battleships of the United Kingdom, World War I shipwrecks in the English Channel, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 5 April 2023, at 20:57. she became a total loss. Features include an easily It is an interesting, but silty, dive and offers an underwater platform for training activities. (Harbour wall to 16m.) Going out on a bearing of 240 degrees right under slipway can be rewarding and lead to depths in excess of 17 to 18 metres. RAN ASHORE IN FOG AT CLAY HOPE 12th DECEMBER 1913, MORE PICTURES AND DETAILS OF PORTLAND SHIPWRECKS CAN BE FOUND, THE SS BOURNEMOUTH WRECKED ON ROCKS NEAR PORTLAND BILL 1886. This 5965 ton Belgian passenger liner, 420 with 57 beam, sunk in September 1939 by a mine en route to Antwerp. This 1154 iron sailing ship collided with the Forrest before sinking. Going far out from the area could lead to deeper grounds with depths ranging in excess of 35 metres but sticking to shore, especially in the kelp beds, divers can see plenty of sea life, crabs and lobsters. All three Boscawen ships were sold in 1906. page travelling from Castletown beach using RHIBs. For detailed information and photographs of this wreck visit our DREDGER PAGE. Sunk as a blockship across the South Ship Channel of Portland Harbour. [4], Coaling facilities were initially integrated into the design of the inner breakwater. Shes a Greek registered bulk freighter of 14,000 tons and lies on a limestone sea bed on her port side. This is a WWII experimental wave breaking unit apparently made for the D-Day landings and is a vessel made out of star shaped barges with lots of hatches. For more information and bookings visit Dive Beyond. Her wreck became known as "Old Hole in the Wall". Unfortunately, conditions worsened quickly and the vessel was caught in a major storm with strong winds, high seas, and snow-impaired visibility. [71][72] Further along the arm is a 29 millimetre spigot mortar emplacement. Hood was laid down at Chatham Dockyard on 12 August 1889 and was launched on 30 July 1891, the Viscountess Hood christening her. The dive time is normally 1-2 hours before or 1-2 hours after HW and the dive area is from the vicinity of Grove point to Balaclava Bay. This is on the outside of the breakwater and just around the corner from the Fort. Today, Salsette lies on her port side in 45m with her starboard rail around 32m. She stands 8 metres high in some places. Commercial activities on the water include specialist diving services for vessels and repairs & maintenance as well as a bunkering (fuelling) station. Bottlebank Drift (19m). This area is covered in various sizes of metal objects, most of which came from ill-fated ships driven ashore by strong winds and tides many years ago. In recent years the number of cruise ship calls have increased at the port. This was intended to allow them to reach a speed of 17.5 knots (32.4km/h; 20.1mph). WebPortland Harbour is located beside the Isle of Portland, Dorset, on the south coast of England. A Swedish steamship which sank off the Cave Hole on Portland in 1882. Construction of the harbour began in 1849; when completed in 1872, its 520-hectare (1,300-acre) surface area made it the largest man-made harbour in the world, and remains one of the largest in the world today. MARBELLA TO ROTTERDAM. The harbour had already been used by ships for centuries when, in the 16th century, King Henry VIII built Portland Castle and Sandsfoot Castle to defend the anchorage. PORTLAND, Ore. A driver died after crashing on NE Marine Drive early Monday morning, according to Portland police. For details and photos visit our COUNTESS OF ERNE page. This site offers some of the most enchanting sea life scenes in the area and is the spot where authors of this site first witnessed the Dance of the Cuttlefish, an amazing scene involving a dozen cuttlefish swaying in one place replicating the colours of each other. Aside from the East Weare Battery, and other related constructions, there are a number of defences built within the harbour's dockyard and surrounding area. In 1946, Hoverfly R-4Bs began operating from the base's playing fields, which were transformed into a landing ground. Portland Harbour (2 to 19m) represents a semi-artificial deep water tidal basin enclosed by breakwaters. In 2003 the academy was able to start redevelopment of the site. The Red Band Fish and Lumpsuckers that visit the Countess seasonally are occasionally even joined by seals. Project Baseline is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization (tax identification number 88-0481587) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Portland offers one of the best shore on the South Coast with Chesil Cove being the highlight for many pleasurable scenic dives full of marine life. Additionally Osprey Quay became an 80 acres regeneration project commissioned by South West Regional Development Agency in 2001. This had the effect of making her roll period shorter by around 7% compared to her sisters, which in turn made her gunnery less accurate. Four of these were mounted on the main deck in casemates on the sides of the hull and suffered from the same problems as the six-inch guns. If youre looking for local, recreational diving, whether it be wrecks, reefs or drift, check out the. The academy was established as a not-for-profit company in 1999, and originally operated from various disused military buildings and facilities. (Beware there are line and cord in the engine section which should not be penetrated). It was put into operation again during World War II. the ss bournemouth wrecked on rocks near portland bill 1886. all 160 passengers were rescued. 35-40m RANGE: Pomeranian, Moidart, Ailsa Craig, Arfon, Frognor, P555, UB74. A new coaling pier was built between 1890 and 1896, and expanded coaling facilities were still being added in 1906. [78] On site is a World War II 29 millimetre spigot mortar emplacement.[79][80]. ON VOYAGE FROM FREDERIKSTAD TO PORT NATAL. At times this area is used by local and visiting dive schools to conduct recreational deep dive training where standards require a depth deeper than 18 metres. Ideal for diving all season. She finished her sea trials in May 1893[14] and was commissioned on 1 June 1893 at the cost of 926,396. [17], As part of further defence works against the threat of torpedo attack, construction of the harbour's two northern breakwaters was carried out between 1893-1906. King George V watched aerial displays from the royal yacht in the harbour in May 1912. This 3000 ton Spanish steamship dragged her anchor in a Force 9 gale in December 1900 and was grounded on the rocks close to the Breakwater where she slipped and eventually sank. [37] Within the same statement Sheerness Dockyard and a number of other naval establishments were also slated for closure. While anchored in Portland harbour she was struck in June 1940 by bombs dropped from a German aircraft and sank there. The Countess of Erne is probably the most popular dive-site in Portland Harbour. [27], In 1862 HMS Britannia was moored at Portland to serve as a training ship for naval cadets. FREE FRENCH SUBMARINE (MINERVA) ASHORE AT PORTLAND IN 1945 WHEN IT BROKE ITS TOW LINE. SS PREVEZA AND SALVAGE TUG ASHORE AT CHESIL COVE JAN 15TH 1920, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL DRAMATIC STORY BEHIND THIS ACCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED ON 4TH JUNE 1949. Renamed Jascon 27, the ship left Portland under tow in 2010, bound for Nigeria, to be refurbished for use as an oil industry accommodation vessel. The port is used by all nature of vessels from commercial ships such as bulkers, tankers, container carriers car carriers, survey and Reefers etc. It is badly broken up with large pieces of machinery present and lying in a rock shingle sea bed. [85], As part of the defence for HMS Osprey, now demolished, a "Yarnold Sanger" pillbox is located on Incline Road, constructed during the Cold War. This WWII destroyer is a war grave and was lost to German aircraft torpedo attack in June 1944 with 150 souls on board. There is some sea life amid the large rocks. However at 03:45 on the 4 th November 1979 she took on too much water and sank 5 miles south of St Aldhelm's Head, still 12 miles from the safety of Portland. [25], The Ministry of Defence continued to invest in HMNB Portland until the late 1980s; however in 1991 the closure was announced of both the naval base and the research establishments on Portland as part of defence spending cuts following the end of the Cold War.

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portland harbour wrecks