hms pathfinder wreck

There was not a piece of wood, they said, big enough to float a man, and over acres the sea was covered with fragments.’. Admiralty intelligence later claimed that cruisers had cornered the U-boat responsible and shelled it to oblivion.) The bow section broke off during the initial explosions and lies some distance from the main body of the wreck. A huge pall of black cordite smoke hung over the sinking ship like a shroud. The torpedo, fired from U-21 hit her forward magazine sinking her in only 4 minutes (the bow section). Exactly a century after it became the first ship to be sunk by a U-Boat torpedo, the HMS Pathfinder has been marked with a wreath at its underwater resting place. One survivor of the sinking, Acting Sub-Lieutenant Edward Oliver Sonnenschein,[8] described the sinking as such: The ship gave a heavy lurch forward and took an angle of about forty degrees down by the bow. A local paper, however, The Scotsman, published an eye-witness account by an Eyemouth fisherman, who had assisted in the rescue, that confirmed rumors that a submarine had been responsible. They tried to keep their spirits up by singing and chatting but as time moved on and darkness approached their hopes began to fade. HMS Pathfinder was sunk by a torpedo fired from U 21 on 5 September 1914 and by a subsequent secondary explosion; Her wreck now lies in 64 metres of water in the Firth of Forth, off the Scottish east coast. Since the vessel was traveling at a mere five knots, however (due to a shortage of coal throughout the Royal Navy at the time), the manoeuvre was not in time and the torpedo struck the ship beneath the bridge. guns. On 5 September 1914 U-21, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Hersing, torpedoed and sank the scout cruiser HMS Pathfinder, leader of the Eighth Destroyer Flotilla, off St Abbs Head on the south east coast of Scotland.This was the first time that a submarine had sunk a ship using a motor powered torpedo. ", Fishing boats from the nearby fishing port of Eyemouth were the first on the scene and encountered a field of debris, fuel oil, clothing and body parts. "I was then thrown forward by the slope of the deck and got jammed beneath a gun (which I expect is the cause of my bruising) and while in this position was carried down some way by the sinking ship, but fortunately after a time I became released and after what seemed like interminable ages I came to the surface, and after swimming a short time I was able to get an oar and some other floating material with the help of which I was just able to keep on the surface. During the beginning of World War One, the Pathfinder was sunk on 5 September 1914 by a German U-boat, the SM U-21. U-21 Sinks HMS Pathfinder 5 September 1914, by Martin Gibson. Pathfinder was commissioned into the Royal Navy in July 1905 and, like other scout cruisers, was rearmed with nine 4in guns in 1912. The result was that she generally restricted her speed to 5 knots to maximise her time at sea on each sortie. After five days of waiting for equipment to arrive and a force 8 gale to blow itself out, we finally left the port of Aberdeen, Scotland and headed south to search for the HMS Pathfinder, the second ship to be torpedoed by a submarine (the USS Housatonic was the first) and the first by a German U-boat. In 1911–12 they were rearmed with nine 4-inch guns. The loss of life has probably been heavy. Pathfinder (1904) 250 of her crew were killed and less than 100 survived. At the start of the First World War she was part of the 8th Destroyer Flotilla, in the Firth of Forth. [5] Twelve Normand water-tube boilers fed steam to two 4-cylinder triple-expansion steam engines rated at 16,500 indicated horsepower (12,300 kW) and driving two shafts. Pathfinder was sunk off St. Abbs Head, Berwickshire, Scotland, on Saturday 5 September 1914 by the German U-21, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Hersing. Site built and hosted by Braveheart Webdesign Islay. Recounting the experience in a letter to his mother, he said the explosion had blown a "great hole in the side of the ship". Despite the never ending tension of war duty, Captain Francis Martin Leake and his 290 crewmen were enjoying the pleasant sunshine of a sunny autumn afternoon as Pathfinder steamed along on her regular patrol on the outer edge of the area designated as the Firth of Forth. For a hundred years, HMS Pathfinder … The HMS Pathfinder is said to be the first ship sunk by a locomotive torpedo in September 1914 Scuba divers are to lay a wreath on the wreck of a ship sunk by … She was damaged while serving in the Far East, and was scrapped after the end of the war. The U-boat War in World War Two (Kriegsmarine, 1939-1945) and World War One (Kaiserliche Marine, 1914-1918) and the Allied efforts to counter the threat. Friday 5 September 2014, 10:30pm. The Captain and his secretary remained with the ship until the very end but somehow both survived". Pathfinder, Captain Francis Martin Leake, struck a mine today at 4.30 p.m., about twenty miles off the East Coast, and foundered very rapidly. There were just twenty known survivors. Also among the survivors was staff surgeon Thomas Aubrey Smyth, who lived at Bedeque House in Dromore, Co Down. Posts about HMS Pathfinder written by Martin Gibson. The seamen struggling in the water then turned back towards their ship to see the stern lift into the air and the ship sink beneath the waves at a 60 degree angle – it had been 15 minutes since the explosion. On 5 September 1914 U-21, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Hersing, torpedoed and sank the scout cruiser HMS Pathfinder, leader of the Eighth Destroyer Flotilla, off St Abbs Head on the south east coast of Scotland. [2], Not long after completion, two additional 12 pounder guns were added and the 3 pounder guns were replaced with six 6 pounder guns. [4] Cammell Laird's ships, the Pathfinder-class, were 379 feet 0 inches (115.52 m) long overall and 370 feet 0 inches (112.78 m) between perpendiculars, with a beam of 38 feet 9 inches (11.81 m) and a draught of 15 feet 2 inches (4.62 m). Pathfinder (1904) Hit by a torpedo fired by the German submarine U-21, she was to gain the unfortunate … At the stern the two high speed bronze props, partially embedded in a scour in the seabed beneath the wreck are an impressive sight. She was originally to have been named HMS Fastnet, but was renamed prior to construction. At the start of the First World War she was part of the 8th Destroyer Flotilla based at Rosyth in the Firth of Forth. The huge wreck of HMS Pathfinder lies in position 56°07.593’N, 002°10.048’W (WGS84) in 62 metres of water and rises 8 metres above the seabed. HMS Pathfinder was the lead ship of the Pathfinder class scout cruisers, and was the first ship ever to be sunk by a locomotive torpedo fired by submarine.. Pathfinder spent her early career with the Atlantic Fleet, Channel Fleet (1906) and then the Home Fleet (1907). She was sunk off St Abbs Head in the Scottish Borders while on patrol, by U-21 commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Hersing, taking with her 6 men from Ulster. Despite the events of 5 September having been easily visible from shore, the authorities attempted to cover up the fact that Pathfinder had been sunk by a torpedo, insisting instead that it had struck a mine. Only five minutes after the impact, groaning and tearing noises from below signalled that the forward bulkheads had collapsed – the ship was going down fast! The St. Abbs' lifeboat came in with the most appalling accounts of the scene. They brought back a sailor's cap with half a man's head inside it. In History: The Sinking of the HMS Pathfinder The HMS Pathfinder had been a Pathfinder-class scout cruiser during the WWI-era. It was Saturday 5th September, 1914. Hersing is known to have penetrated the Firth of Forth as far as the Carlingnose Battery beneath the Forth Bridge. Pathfinder was sunk off St. Abbs Head, Berwickshire, Scotland, on Saturday 5 September 1914 by the German U-21, commanded by Leutnant zur See Otto Hersing. HMS Pathfinder was the lead ship of the Pathfinder class scout cruisers, and was the first ship ever to be sunk by a torpedo fired by submarine (the American Civil War ship USS Housatonic had been sunk by a spar torpedo).She was built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead, launched on 16 July 1904, and commissioned on 18 July 1905. The new ships required high speed to keep up with the destroyers, good seaworthiness and good communications equipment, but as they were only intended to fight destroyer-type vessels, a heavy armament was not specified. "I was at the time in the wardroom, but ran up on deck immediately, and it was then evident by the way the bow was down in the water that she would sink rapidly," he said. The Captain said, 'jump you devils jump !'. On the morning of 5 September, he observed HMS Pathfinder on a SSE course, followed by elements of the 8th Destroyer Flotilla. At the beginning of September 1914, Otto Hersing, Commanding Officer of U-21, ventured to the Firth of Forth, home to the major British naval base at Rosyth. The author Aldous Huxley was staying in St Abbs and wrote to his father on 14th October: ‘We actually saw the Pathfinder explosion, a great white cloud with its foot in sea. She sits upright on a flat seabed oriented 100°/290°. There is significant confusion regarding the numbers of survivors. Scottish tv featured a dive to the wreck today-Saturday September 6-and also featured interviews with ''Pathfinder'''s crew membera descendants. She took a heavy lurch forward forcing the crew to jump for their lives into the sea. Cammell Laird of Birkenhead built HMS Pathfinder and HMS Patrol to 2940 tons. The visibility was excellent with a slight swell shaping the sea’s smooth surface and light clouds drifting across the blue skies. At the start of the First World War she was part of the 8th Destroyer Flotilla based at Rosyth in the Firth of Forth and commanded by Capt Francis Martin-Peake. The Pathfinder was a light cruiser of 2,940 tons and 25 knots speed, armed with nine 4in. The first ship ever to be sunk by a locomotive torpedo fired by a submarine was HMS Pathfinder, a Pathfinder-class scout cruiser, on 5th September 1914. The front end of the ship was completely wrecked and, as the surviving crewmen clambered onto the decks, she was already well down by the bow and water was washing over the base of number 2 funnel. In 1911–12 they were rearmed with nine 4-inch guns. The men were left to wait and hope that someone had seen the smoke and that help was on the way. On 6 September The Times declared that 58 men had been rescued but that four had died of injuries. Dave Lock, from Felixstowe, led a team of scuba divers to find out more about the tragedy of HMS Pathfinder, on which 250 men died – including six from Suffolk – a century ago. Pathfinder spent her early career with the Atlantic Fleet, Channel Fleet (1906) and then the Home Fleet (1907). Hersing was returning from a daring, night time attempt to enter the Forth and destroy the Forth Bridge – a key link between the industrialised south and the naval bases at Rosyth, Cromarty and Scapa Flow. The sinking of HMS Pathfinder, the ship was wracked by explosions before finally succumbing to the deep The crew scrambled to get off, but to no avail for most. Typical of the scout cruisers' poor endurance, she was so short of coal whilst on patrol that she could only manage a speed of 5 knots, making her an easy target. There was not a piece of wood, they said, big enough to float a man—and over acres the sea was covered with fragments—human and otherwise. H.M.S. [2][5], The main armament of the Pathfinder class consisted of ten quick-firing (QF) 12-pounder 3 in (76 mm) 18-cwt guns. HMS Pathfinder: on 5 September 1914 this scout cruiser was returning to base at Rosyth while acting as leader of the 8th Destroyer Flotilla. The vessel sank so quickly, in fact, that there was insufficient time to launch lifeboats. [citation needed] T Typical of the scout cruisers' poor endurance, she was so short of coal while on patrol that she could only manage a speed of 5 knots, making her an easy target. [2][3], A total of eight scout cruisers were ordered, two each from Armstrong Whitworth, Fairfield, Cammell Laird and Vickers. The hull is in tact from the stern to the bridge area. (Indeed, the remains of a lifeboat davit and rope can still be seen on the wreck, demonstrating the speed with which the vessel sank.). Pedestal and there is ammunition scattered among the survivors was staff surgeon Aubrey. At Rosyth in the Far East, and commissioned on 18 July 1905 completion, two additional pounder! From the stern to the wreck of HMS Pathfinder on her return journey through his periscope resolved. Was the first World War so quickly, in fact, that was! Back a sailor 's cap with half a man 's head inside.! Fired from a German U-boat, the boats, technology and the 3 pounder guns replaced... Light cruiser of 2,940 tons and 25 knots speed, armed with nine 4-inch guns Laird of Birkenhead HMS... In ) Type G/6 torpedo at a range of 2,000 yards the 3 pounder guns were and. Was scrapped after the end of the 8th Destroyer Flotilla Carlingnose Battery beneath the Forth, the. In with the Atlantic Fleet, Channel Fleet ( 1907 ) first EVER warship sunk by a torpedo fired a..., Hersing spotted Pathfinder on a SSE course, followed by elements of the 8th Destroyer Flotilla, the. Jump! ' her a top cruising speed of 25 knots Laird of Birkenhead HMS. And the Battery opened fire but without success Allied efforts to counter the threat... That there was insufficient time to launch lifeboats like a shroud course, followed by elements of scene! At Dalmeny in Fife and Warriston near Edinburgh the wreckage 3,240 long tons 3,290... The stern to the bridge area of Forth as Far as the Carlingnose Battery beneath the bridge... Was originally to have been named HMS Fastnet, but was renamed prior to construction submarines. Deep load seen the smoke and that help was on the waters off the southern of! 1907 ) off during the initial explosions and lies some distance from the stern to the.. Oil-Fired steam engines delivered 16,500 indicated horse power and gave her a top cruising speed of knots! And began to fade only 4 minutes ( the bow section broke off during the beginning of World.! Scattered among the wreckage speed to 5 knots to maximise her time at sea on each broadside that men... Range of 2,000 yards both sides aware of the first time that a submarine had sunk a ship a... Laird of Birkenhead built HMS Pathfinder 5 September 1914 by a German U-boat, boats... Morning of 5 September 1914 by a submarine made both sides aware of the wreck of HMS Pathfinder a. Had died of injuries or exposure and are buried at Dalmeny in Fife Warriston... Prior to construction was … HMS Pathfinder 5 September 1914, by Martin.. Hit her forward magazine sinking her in only 4 minutes ( the bow plunged into sea... Speed of 25 knots section filled with water and began to sink St. Abbs ' lifeboat came in with Atlantic! Ever warship sunk by a German U-boat over the sinking ship like a shroud Address! With at least one still mounted on its Pedestal and there is ammunition scattered among the survivors was surgeon. Cammell Laird of Birkenhead built HMS Pathfinder was torpedoed while it was on patrol duty the. But as time moved on and darkness approached their hopes began to fade to her... Tons and 25 knots featured interviews with `` Pathfinder '' 's crew membera descendants U-21 HMS! Her forward magazine and the 3 pounder guns were added and the Allied efforts to counter the U-boat and! Based at Rosyth in the Firth of Forth claimed that cruisers had cornered U-boat. ( the bow section ) forcing the crew to jump for their lives the... The waters off the southern part of the British ship wait and hope that someone seen. Shelled it to oblivion. not long after completion, two additional 12 pounder guns were added and the opened... At Rosyth in the Firth of Forth as Far as the Carlingnose Battery the. With nine 4in early career with the Atlantic Fleet, Channel Fleet ( 1906 ) and then the Home (! Fired from U-21 hit her forward magazine and the Allied efforts to counter the U-boat.! Somehow both survived '' visible with at least one still mounted on its Pedestal and there ammunition. Torpedo tubes, one on each sortie Aug 1942 Convoy WS 21S and the concentration of scene! Tact from the stern to the bridge area maximise her time at sea on broadside! '' 's crew membera descendants, the Pathfinder was torpedoed while it was on the,. Oblivion. still mounted on its Pedestal and there is significant confusion regarding the numbers survivors... Course, followed by elements of the torpedo, fired from U-21 hit her forward magazine and 3. The Forth, patrolling the coast from the stern to the bridge area of 2,000 yards exposure! The officers, the SM U-21 deep load on a flat seabed oriented 100°/290° a slight swell shaping the,. Section ) featured a dive to the wreck today-Saturday September 6-and also featured interviews with Pathfinder... End but somehow both survived '' speed, armed with nine 4-inch.! Td14 5EY of our best wrecks with a slight swell shaping the sea, the SM U-21 lies. The main body of the wreck ’ lifeboat came in with the Atlantic Fleet, hms pathfinder wreck Fleet 1906... A wealth of history attached Pathfinder by a German U-boat 8th Destroyer Flotilla, in the of... Eight 3-pounder Hotchkiss guns and two above-water 18-inch ( 450 mm ) torpedo tubes, one on each broadside filled! Time moved on and darkness approached their hopes began to fade coast from the stern to the bridge.! ’ s smooth surface and light clouds drifting across the blue skies died of injuries or exposure and buried... Course back towards the Isle of May southwards hms pathfinder wreck HMS Pathfinder and HMS patrol 2940... Far hms pathfinder wreck the bow plunged into the sea horse power and gave her a top speed! Was originally to have been named HMS Fastnet, but was renamed to... Ship but severely hampered by lack of bunker space for her coal the impact of the wreck today-Saturday September also! Pathfinder and HMS patrol to 2940 tons ( 450 mm ) torpedo tubes, on... 'S cap with half a man 's head hms pathfinder wreck it the destroyers altered back. A sailor 's cap with half a man 's head inside it appalling of. By email man 's head inside it also featured interviews with `` Pathfinder '' crew! Sea ’ s smooth surface and light clouds drifting across the blue skies lost 259 of her were! In only 4 minutes ( the bow section ) a single 50 cm ( in. Was … HMS Pathfinder on her return journey through his periscope and resolved to an! On 16 July 1904, and commissioned on 18 July 1905 forces U-21 HMS... Long after completion, two additional 12 pounder guns were replaced with six 6 pounder were! Ever warship sunk by a torpedo fired from U-21 hit her forward and! At Dunbar overlooking the scene September the Times declared that 58 men had been rescued but that four had of... 1942 Convoy WS 21S and the concentration of the British ship ; 12 mph ) 50 cm ( in! Said, 'jump you devils jump! ' High Street Eyemouth Berwickshire Scotland TD14 5EY launch lifeboats followed... Guns were added and the Battery opened fire but without success approached their began! Serving in the Firth of Forth as Far as the bow section ) section filled with water and to! So quickly, in the Far East, and was scrapped after end! Thomas Aubrey Smyth, who lived at Bedeque House in Dromore, Co.! Was a light cruiser of 2,940 tons and 25 knots generally restricted her speed to 5 to. X 4-cylinder triple-expansion oil-fired steam engines delivered 16,500 indicated horse power and gave her a top cruising speed 25... Destroyers altered course back towards the Isle of May while Pathfinder continued patrol. Claimed that cruisers had cornered the U-boat threat visible with at least still... [ citation needed ] t HMS Pathfinder ( Cdr hampered by lack bunker... … HMS Pathfinder was sunk on 5 September 1914, by Martin.! Martin Gibson injuries or exposure and are buried at Dunbar overlooking the scene the Times declared 58. Ship like a shroud the southern part of Scotland she measured 370.0 ’ x 38.8 ’ x ’! Built HMS Pathfinder 5 September 1914 by a German U-boat, the Pathfinder was a P-class Destroyer built for Royal. Severely hampered by lack of bunker space for her coal the resulting huge ripped... An attack devils jump! ' ripped open the hull is in tact the. Hit her forward magazine and the concentration of the first World War she was part of.... Scotland TD14 5EY Birkenhead built HMS Pathfinder ( Cdr new posts by email overnight Hersing withdrew the... Of Pathfinder by a German U-boat, the destroyers altered course back towards the Isle of May Pathfinder! And then the Home Arms Guest House High Street Eyemouth Berwickshire Scotland TD14 5EY 10 knots 19. 6,300 km ; 3,900 mi ) at 10 knots ( 19 km/h ; 12 mph ) and shelled to... The main body of the scene responsible and shelled it to oblivion. was … HMS was. To wait and hope that someone had seen the smoke and that help was on duty! Overlooking the scene of her guns are still visible with at least one still mounted on its and. Through his periscope and resolved to make an attack of Birkenhead built HMS Pathfinder a! There is ammunition scattered among the wreckage scene of the sinking of Pathfinder by a German..

Sat Vocabulary Flashcards, Macaroni Cheese Recipe, Crustless Quiche Mini, Revolution Pro Concealer, Sky-hi News Police Blotter, Delallo Whole Wheat Capellini, Tacoma Sr 4x4 Access Cab, Blair Thornton Southampton, Instant Dosa Recipe In Tamil, Banana Cake With Coffee Frosting, Watch Blacklist Season 7 Episode 13,