Maritime record MDO19953 - Boadicea HMS

Remains of 1944 wreck of British destroyer which foundered in Lyme Bay, 13 nautical miles SW of the Bill of Portland, after being torpedoed by an enemy aircraft. At the time of loss she was escorting a convoy from Milford Haven to Normandy in the wake of the landings on D-Day the previous week. The torpedoes struck the magazine area, causing an explosion, after which she rapidly sank. Constructed of steel in 1931, she was powered by steam turbine engines. In 2006 she was designated as a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.

Position 50 25.7N 2 45.9W taken from (4)

Wreck Site and Archaeological Remains:

While escorting a convoy supporting the Normandy landings she was hit by an airborne torpedo. She lies on a sandy seabed 6m proud in 52m. There are large guns on her stern with her AA guns pointing skyward. It has been reported that her bell has been recovered. (4)

The bell has been recovered. (Droit A/259) (6)

Vessel designated under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986, in 2006. (7)

On 1st May 2008 the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2008 (Statutory Instrument No.950) cited the vessel known as HMS Boadicea, which sank on or about 13th June 1944, as a designated vessel. The Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2006 (Statutory Instrument No. 2616 was revoked. (12)

Cited as a designated vessel under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2009 (Statutory Instrument No.3380), which revoked the Order of 2008 (Statutory Instrument No.950). (13)

Cited as a designated vessel under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2012 (Statutory Instrument No.1110), which revoked the Order of 2009 (Statutory Instrument No.3380). (14)

Position 50 25.692N 002 45.945W (EUT/WGS 84), in 50m general depth.

1952: Charted as position approximate, 50 25N 002 45W. (18)(19)

1960: Examined in 50 25.38N 002 45.50W. Least echosounder depth 22 fathoms in general depth 27 fathoms on a seabed of gravel and sand. (18)(19)

1986: Dived on in 50 25.42N 002 45.54W (OSGB). Identified by bell. Stern half of ship is upright and in good condition. A large gun points aft and depth charges remain in the racks. (18)(19)

2003: Examined in 50 25.692N 002 45.945W (WGS 84). Least echosounder depth 41.2m in general depth 50m. No scour; length 67m, width 9m, DCS3 height 7.1m. Orientated 161/341, giving off a moderate magnetic anomaly. Upright, slightly broken, with debris fields respectively: 12m x 8 x 2.3m, 35m to the west; 13m x 9m x 1.4m, 6m to the south; and 9m x 4m x 0.9m, 46m SE. (18)(19)

Position seen to be 13 nautical miles SW of the Bill of Portland. (19)

Wreck Event and Documentary Evidence:

Torpedoed and sunk off Portland by enemy aircraft. (1)(11)

HMS BOADICEA sunk by aerial torpedo, 16 miles south-west of Portland Bill. She was struck in the forward magazine area, causing the bow to be blown off, which lies scattered on the seabed. The remainder sits upright . (2)

Sunk by aircraft torpedo, off Portland, English Channel. (8)

0445: Torpedoed 12 miles or 22km SW of the Bill of Portland by German aircraft. She exploded after being hit by two torpedoes. (9)

B-Class destroyer. Escorting a westbound Channel convoy when attacked by Ju88 aircraft 12 miles SW of the Bill of Portland. After being hit by two torpedoes her magazine exploded and she foundered rapidly. (10)

BOADICEA, destroyer of 1,931 tons. Torpedoed and sunk by aircraft SW of Portland Bill. (16)

Attacked and sunk while escorting convoy EBC-8 from Milford Haven to Normandy. (17)

Laid down: 11 July 1929
Launched: 23 Sept 1930 (1)(10)
Commissioned: 07 April 1931 (2); date of completion (8)(15)
Builder: Hawthorn Leslie (1)(2)(15)
Where Built: Hebburn (15)
Pennant: H65
Commanding Officer: Cdr F W Hawkins (2); Lt Cdr F W Hawkins RN (10)
Propulsion: Screw driven engine (2); 2 screw turbine engines (15)
Armament: 4 x 4.7 inch, 8 TT (1)(2); 4 x 4.7 in Mk IX guns; 2 x QF 2pdr Mk II anti-aircraft guns; 2 x 4 533mm TT; 20 depth charges (17)
Crew: 187 (10); 188 (17)
Crew lost: 150 (4); 175 (2)(10)
Crew surviving: 12 (9)(10)
Owner: Royal Navy [all sources]

Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss

Additional source:
Divers' Guide to Weymouth and Portland area

<1> Colledge, J J, 1969, Ships of the Royal Navy. Volume 1: major ships, 81 (Monograph). SWX4826.

<2> Larn, R, and Larn, B, 1995, Shipwreck index of the British Isles, volume 1 : Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset Section 6, Dorset (AJ) Vol 1 (Monograph). SWX4541.

<3> Hinchcliffe, J and V, 1990, Dive Dorset: a diver guide (2nd Edition), No 83, p77 (Monograph). SWX5640.

<4> Hinchcliffe, J and V, 1999, Dive Dorset: a diver guide (3rd Edition), Wreck 48 p52 (Monograph). SWX1.

<5> Diver, January 2002, No.1 p80 (Article in serial). SWX8730.

<6> 2001, Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Receiver of Wreck Amnesty, 23-Jan to 24-Apr-2001 (Index). SWX4542.

<7> Statutory instrument: Protection of Military Remains Act (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order, 2006 No 2616 (Scheduling record). SDO20685.

<8> 1988, British Vessels Lost at Sea 1914-18 and 1939-45, 30 (Monograph). SWX4538.

<9> Brown, David, 1990, Warship losses of World War Two, 111 (Monograph). SDO20526.

<10> Kemp, Paul, 1999, The Admiralty Regrets: British Warship Losses of the 20th Century, 234-5 (Monograph). SWX9368.

<11> Young, John M, 1989, Britain's sea war : a diary of ship losses, 1939-1945, 220 (Monograph). SDO20525.

<12> Statutory instrument: Protection of Military Remains Act (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order, 2008 No 950 (Scheduling record). SDO20685.

<13> Statutory instrument: Protection of Military Remains Act (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order, 2009 No 3380 (Scheduling record). SDO20685.

<14> Statutory instrument: Protection of Military Remains Act (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order, 2012 No 1110 (Scheduling record). SDO20685.

<15> Miramar Ship Index www.miramarshipindex.org.nz, 71803 > accessed on 24-JAN-2012 (Digital archive). SDO20161.

<16> 1989, Lloyds war losses: the Second World War 3 September-14 August 1945, 1768 (Index). SWX4997.

<17> Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org, HMS_Boadicea_(H65) > accessed on 24-JAN-2013 (Digital archive). SDO13659.

<18> United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, Wreck report (Monograph). SDO20514.

<19> SeaZone Hydrospatial, Digital marine geographic information derived from SeaZone Hydrospatial, 24-JAN-2013 (Digital archive). SDO20540.

<20> Cumming, E, The Dorset shipwreck and maritime incident directory, 14 (Monograph). SDO16406.

Destroyer H65 - … Bombed (Aerial Torpedoes?) by German Aircraft. 175 crew were killed. 16 miles SW. of Portland Bill. SRN: Vol. 1 p:81. & Divers Guide; Weymouth & Portland: Ed 4.

<21> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1402696 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 15 2024 1:02PM