Maritime record MDO20027 - Gripfast

Remains of the 1942 wreck of a British cargo vessel which was sunk by German aircraft approximately 5 nautical miles SSW of Portland Bill. She was on Admiralty Service as a collier, and was en route from Barry to Sheerness. This wreck was formerly believed to be the remains of the British trawler KINGSTON CAIRNGORM. Status: Site

Wreck site and archaeological remains:

Horizontal Datum: OGB
Quality of Depth: ES
General Depth: 46 metres
Orientation: 090270
Method of Fix: D

Wreck lies in general depth of 46m. Possibly the remains of the KINGSTON CAINGORM. (1)

20-JUL-1955: Wreck located in 502557N 022958W using Decca. The least echosounder depth is 19 fathoms in a general depth of 25 fathoms. The wreck is orientated 090/270 degrees.

20-JUL-1961: A good clear echo, but it did not mark well on range recorder. Lost on both runs at 7-800 yards.

03-FEB-1983: Wreck shown in 502607N 023012W on Kingfisher Chart.

15-OCT-2003: Wreck dived in listed position. Positively identified by its bell. The wreck is partly intact with gun and mount on the seabed. There are shells dated 1941 inside the stern. The wreck is upright, but part of the midships deck is inverted on the starboard side. The bows are intact but the forecastle is collapsed. The propeller blades are missing and the engine is tilted at 15 degrees to starboard.

03-DEC-2003: Not investigated. The wreck lies in an area of static fishing gear.

07-JAN-2004: Wreck lies in 5026.032N 0230.065W (WGD)

Charted as GRIPFAST by the UKHO. (2)(3)

Two portholes and a broken ship's whistle, recovered from the wreck of the GRIPFAST, 5 miles south of Portland Bill. (Droit 220/03) (9)

A damaged bronze bell recovered from the wreck of the GRIPFAST, 5 miles of Portland Bill. (Droit 236/03) (9)

Wreck event and documentary evidence:

Employed as an Admiralty collier, was carrying 1272 tons of cargo when attacked by German aircraft. While she lost five of her own complement in the incident, three of five survivors picked up from the SS ROSTEN, sunk on the same day and in the same convoy, but by German motor torpedo E-boats, were also killed. (5)

Source (6) states the vessel carried thirteen crew, five of whom were lost; four gunners and five survivors from the SS ROSTEN.

Built: 1910 (8)
Builder: J Crown & Sons (8)
Wher built: Monkwearmouth (8)
Owner: Newbigin Steam Shipping Company Ltd. (8)
Propulsion: screw driven (5)
Crew: 13 (6)
Passengers: 5 (6)
Crew Lost: 5 (6)
Passengers Lost: 3 (5)

Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss
See record 832477 for the wreck now believed to be the remains of the KINGSTON CAIRNGORM.
See record 904595 for a site formerly believed to be the remains of the GRIPFAST.

<1> United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, 1992, Hydrographic Office wreck index, Extracted 23-NOV-1992 (Index). SWX4837.

<2> SeaZone Hydrospatial, Digital marine geographic information derived from SeaZone Hydrospatial, 01-Feb-16 (Digital archive). SDO20540.

<3> United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, Wreck report, 18551 (Monograph). SDO20514.

<4> Larn, Richard, 1992, United Kingdom shipwreck index (Index). SWX5030.

<5> 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.

<6> 1989, Lloyds war losses: the Second World War 3 September-14 August 1945, 488 (Index). SWX4997.

<7> 1988, British Vessels Lost at Sea 1914-18 and 1939-45, 64 (Monograph). SWX4538.

<8> Miramar Ship Index www.miramarshipindex.org.nz, 01-FEB-2016 (Digital archive). SDO20161.

<9> Receiver of Wreck, Receiver of Wreck Droit, 236/03 (Unpublished document). SWX6384.

<10> National Record of the Historic Environment, 904596 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 28 2024 7:48PM