Maritime record MWX2385 - Valentine Tank

Remains of 1944 wreck of British amphibious Valentine tank which foundered in rough weather during Exercise Smash 1, in the run-up to D-Day, approximately 2 miles ESE of the entrance to Poole harbour. A number of similar vehicles were also lost in this exercise. Constructed of steel, the tanks were engine-powered and were adapted for seagoing purposes, rather than true amphibious vehicles. Five tanks were recorded as dispersed in 1987 or 1989.

Lost while carrying out trials during WWII. 06-JUN-1985 Valentine tank located in 50 39.44n 001 54.11W. (1)

… Upright and virtually complete, albeit very rusty...part of a flotilla of Valentines which, were fitted experimentally with canvas screens in order to make them float in the sea. Much of the development of this secret weapon took place in Poole Bay... (2)

Recovered objects on droit list include shaving brush, razor, toothbrush, wrench, radio telephone and makers plate. (Droit A/093).(5) Recovered items on droit list include a radiator manifold, a piece of hydraulic piping, and a microphone. (Droit A/1125).(5)

A Recorded by the Poole Bay Archaeological Research Group. (6)

Wreck Site and Archaeological Remains:

Horizontal Datum: OSGB (1)(8)
Vertical Datum: LAT (1)(8)
Method of Fix: Decca (1)(8)

Charted as foul in position 50 39.733N 001 54.184W (OSGB); 50 39.768N 001 54.266W (WGS 84), in 11m general depth. (8)

06-JUN-1985: Valentine tank located in 50 39.44N 001 54.11W. (1)(8)

. . . Upright and virtually complete, albeit very rusty . . . The tanks in Poole Bay all lie at around 9 metres . . . situated in flat, sandy terrain and consequently form havens for many fish, conger eels, crabs and lobsters . . . (2)(4)(6)

This tank is listed as No.4 in the group under the heading of No.272, "Valentine Tanks", in position 50 39.74N 001 54.19W. (4)

None of the droits below have been attributed to any particular Valentine tank, and have, therefore, been cross-referenced between them all:

Recovered objects on droit list include shaving brush, razor, toothbrush, wrench, radio telephone and maker's plate. (Droit A/093). (5)

Recovered items on droit list include a radiator manifold, a piece of hydraulic piping, and a microphone. (Droit A/1125). (5)

A door catch recovered in Poole Bay from unspecified Valentine tank. (Droit A/2450). (5)

The tanks now sit upright on the seabed and were complete up to 1987 when the Royal Navy blew five of them up, the remaining two are still complete. (7)

Charted as foul and seen to be located approximately 2 miles ESE of the entrance to Poole harbour. (9)

Wreck Event and Documentary Evidence:

. . . Part of a flotilla of Valentines which, in 1942, were fitted experimentally with canvas screens in order to make them float in the sea. Much of the development of this secret weapon took place in Poole Bay and it is not surprising that a few Valentines succumbed to rough conditions and sank. Although the development of the screen system (which could be raised or lowered pneumatically) was carried out on the Valentines, it was used eventually during the Normandy landings on Sherman tanks, a much heavier-bodied vehicle . . . The Valentines were powered by a duplex drive system which enabled the engines to turn large propellers mounted at the rear when the tanks were in the water. (2)(4)(6)

A Vickers tank offered to the War Ministry on the 14-FEB-1939, therefore called Valentine, started operation during 1940. During the course of the war it was developed into many special purpose vehicles, one of these being the amphibious 'DD' Duplex Drive. Seven were lost during the last major exercise before D-Day with the loss of six men. (7)

Crew Lost: 6 overall, not attributed to any particular tank (7)

Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss

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

<2> Hinchcliffe, J and V, 1990, Dive Dorset: a diver guide (2nd Edition), Wreck No. 197, 161-3 (Monograph). SWX5640.

<3> 1979, Diver [incorporating Underwater World] 1979, No. 6 June., p24 (Article in serial). SWX6633.

<4> Hinchcliffe, J and V, 1999, Dive Dorset: a diver guide (3rd Edition), Wreck 272, p190-191 (Monograph). SWX1.

<5> 2001, Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Receiver of Wreck Amnesty (Index). SWX4542.

<6> Hinchcliffe, J and V, 1984, Dive Dorset: a diver guide (1st Edition), Wreck No. 197, 161-3 (Monograph). SWX1714.

<7> Shovlar, S, 1996, Dorset Shipwrecks, A comprehensive guide to the shipwrecks of Purbeck and Poole Bay. , 202-205 (Monograph). SWX8036.

<8> United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, Wreck report, 19529 (Monograph). SDO20514.

<9> SeaZone Hydrospatial, Digital marine geographic information derived from SeaZone Hydrospatial, 17-APR-2012 (Digital archive). SDO20540.

<10> Le Pard, G, 1995-2003, Dorset Coast Forum Maritime Archaeological Database (Digital archive). SWX8707.

<11> National Record of the Historic Environment, 832533 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 5 2024 8:54AM