HMS Sidon This submarine originally sank in Portland harbour due to an explosion and subsequent fire, which killed some of the crew. She was salvaged and sunk in her present position as a Sonar target and makes an excellent dive. The Sidon is upright and although intact there are many holes in her casing, which … Read Article
Times: Tuesday, January 17, 1939, Issue 48205 – The body of Leading Telegraphist James Arthur Maloney of HMS Sharpshooter who was reported missing on Sunday when a motor-launch from Sharpshooter capsized after striking a submerged wreck in Portland Harbour, was recovered from Portland Harbour yesterday. Ship Incident
Spanish Freighter Captain F. Tommerek. General Cargo. Identity confirmed by bell. [44M] – (Clarke: 50 24.32N; 03 22.93W) Torpedoed and sunk by German Submarine UB-80, Kapitanleutnant Biebeg. Refs. LARN South Devon 1918; MoD(N) Hyd. Wk. No. 013302978; Allied, Neutral & Central Merchant Shipping Losses WW1: p99; LCWLR: WW1, p213 & Dive South Cornwall: p72-3.
Indian Troop Ship – Stranding Only – DCC: 10/01/1884 “NAVAL ENQUIRY – When the SERAPIS, Indian troop ship, was on her passage to Portsmouth on the 26th December 1883, she touched the Shambles, off Portland, but fortunately without sustaining any damage, the engines having been reversed, and the big troop ship at once got off. … Read Article
Naval Jet [9M] (Clarke: GPS; 50 34.74N; 02 26.96W) NIL.
HMS SARGASSO. Armed Yacht/Minesweeper [35M] – (LARN) – Hired as a danlayer in October 1939, Hit mine and sunk 10.5 miles ESE of Anvil Point. SRN: Vol. 2, p321. & British Vessels Lost at Sea: WW2, p28.
Part of the Spanish Armada of 1588, this Man of War (800 tons) was one of the most heavily armed of the ships which acted as the headquarters for the Paymaster. While off Dorset there was a large explosion on board, it was said to be sabotage by a German gunner who had been cuckolded … Read Article
4th rate, 26 gun, Man of War – (LARN) – Captain Edmund Button RN. One of eleven King’s ships and thirty merchantmen lost in a battle between Robert Blake and the Dutch Admiral Martin (Maarten) Van Tromp. The battle lasted for three days the SAMPSON being so damaged that the crew were removed and the … Read Article
HMS SAFARI. Submarine S Class Group 3 [40M] Building No. P.211 name given in 1945. Lost St Alban’s Head while on tow to be scrapped. LARN, SRN: Vol. 1 p16, 479.
Armed British Steamship – Captain Weatherall. [57M] – (Dive Dorset: 65 p61: GPS; 50 23.22N; 02 40.06W.) Torpedoed and sunk by German Submarine U-84, 10 miles SW Portland Bill. Cargo PATENT FUEL (Coal Blocks), 3500 tons. (Clarke: 50 18.30N, 02 44.42W) Refs. British Merchant Ships sunk by U-Boats in WW1, p117; LCWLR: WW1, p94; British … Read Article