Maritime record MWX1670 - Amazon 1866

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Summary

Royal Navy Sloop of 1,081 ton, sank after collision with the SS OSPREY, 10 July 1866.

Map

Type and Period (2)

Full Description

`Only recently commissioned, this wooden screw sloop ran into the SS OSPREY cutting her in two and causing her to sink with the loss of ten lives. The warship sustained vital damage and after picking up the 22 survivors of the steamship, her own crew took to their boats. Fortunately, there was sufficient room for all on board and no casualties in the sloops complement. A court martial was held on board HMS VICTORY under Rear Admiral G C Wellesley. Sub-Lieut. Alfred C Loveridge was the officer of the watch at the time of the collision, which took place at 1am, the AMAZON striking the other vessel on the port quarter, about one third of her length from the stern. Both vessels displayed lights and the conditions were clear and calm. The steamship sank within 5 minutes and the warship at 3.30am as fog set in. Sub-Lieut. Loveridge was dismissed from the service. (1)(2)

'Plymouth 10th July: HMS AMAZON, from Portsmouth to Halifax, N.S., and the OSPREY...foundered this morning early after being in collision 30 miles off the Start; several lives lost from the latter. (3)

This vessel was off Start Point at 1am when the steam collier OSPREY was sighted ahead, the weather being calm and clear. The officer of the watch on board the warship, Sub-Lieut. Loveridge, ordered her helm put to starboard instead of port, and the vessels collided, the collier being cut in two and sinking immediately. After picking up survivors, the AMAZON was also found to be sinking, and had to be abandoned some two and a half hours later. (4)(6)

`The collision took place in the Channel, off Portland ... (7) Source (5) gives position of loss as `in the Channel. Built: 1865 Where Built: Pembroke Dock HP: 300 Propulsion: Screw driven, 2 cylinder compound engine; sail Armament: 2 x 6ins; 2 x 64pdr Master: Cdr J E Hunter RN Crew: 143 Crew Lost: 1 Owner: Royal Navy

Date of Loss Qualifier: A

Additional sources cited in United Kingdom Shipwreck Index; DS 1974 p111 and 247; PRO. Kew. Court Martial 19-21.7.1866, ADM.1/6042


<1> Larn, Richard, 1992, United Kingdom shipwreck index, Extracted 23 November 1992 (Index). SWX5030.

<2> Hocking, Charles, 1990, Dictionary of Disasters at Sea during the Age of Steam, p27 (Monograph). SWX4536.

<3> 1745 onwards, Lloyds list, 11-JUL-1866, No.16301 (Serial). SWX8434.

<4> Gosset, W P, 1986, The lost ships of the Royal Navy, 1793-1900, p118 (Monograph). SWX5057.

<5> Colledge, J J, 1969, Ships of the Royal Navy. Volume 1: major ships, p30 (Monograph). SWX4826.

<6> Shipwreck index of the British Isles, volume 1 : Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset Section 5, South Devon (AH) (Monograph). SWX4666.

<7> 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.

<8> Le Pard, G, 1995-2003, Dorset Coast Forum Maritime Archaeological Database, Shipwreck 1111 (Digital archive). SWX8707.

<9> Cumming, E, The Dorset shipwreck and maritime incident directory, 7 (Monograph). SDO16406.

<10> National Record of the Historic Environment, 901093 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Sources/Archives (10)

  • <1> Index: Larn, Richard. 1992. United Kingdom shipwreck index. Extracted 23 November 1992.
  • <2> Monograph: Hocking, Charles. 1990. Dictionary of Disasters at Sea during the Age of Steam. p27.
  • <3> Serial: 1745 onwards. Lloyds list. 11-JUL-1866, No.16301.
  • <4> Monograph: Gosset, W P. 1986. The lost ships of the Royal Navy, 1793-1900. p118.
  • <5> Monograph: Colledge, J J. 1969. Ships of the Royal Navy. Volume 1: major ships. p30.
  • <6> Monograph: Shipwreck index of the British Isles, volume 1 : Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset Section 5, South Devon (AH).
  • <7> Monograph: 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.
  • <8> Digital archive: Le Pard, G. 1995-2003. Dorset Coast Forum Maritime Archaeological Database. Shipwreck 1111.
  • <9> Monograph: Cumming, E. The Dorset shipwreck and maritime incident directory. 7.
  • <10> Digital archive: National Record of the Historic Environment. 901093.

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Location

Grid reference SY 6863 6557 (point)
Map sheet SY66NE

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Other Statuses/References

  • Legacy UID: Dorset Sites and Monuments Record: 9 000 0266
  • Legacy UID: National Monuments Record: SY 66 NE 89
  • Legacy UID: National Record of the Historic Environment: 901093

Record last edited

Mar 28 2024 4:56PM

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