Maritime record MWX4488 - Bombardon Unit, Redcliff Point

Partial remains of 1944 wreck of Allied (British or American) bombardon unit, which foundered approximately 5.4 miles off Redcliffe Point, apparently during the Normandy invasion after the D-Day landings. Constructed of steel, these bombardon units were designed to form part of a floating breakwater, in conjunction with the Mulberry harbours used in the landings.

Bombardons were steel structures designed and built to form part of a floating breakwater for use in conjunction with the Mulberry harbours used during the invasion of France in 1944.

19-JAN-1960 Sunken Bombardon. Least depth 15 feet in 50 37.28N 002 24.05W.

03-OCT-1986 Least echo sounder depth 5.5 in general depth 12.5-13M. Scour 0.5-1m deep. Height 6m. Divers describe as tangled network of angle iron and plate.

14-JUN-1991 Examined in 50 37.30.7N 002 24.04.9W. Least echo sounder depth 8.4 in general depth 12.5m. Wreckage of two bombardons lying side by side. One intact and the other extensively destroyed. Recommend retain as charted.(1)

The remains of a Bombardon unit that sank in two sections (the sections are 150 yds apart) consisting of large metal tanks with a few single metal sheets. (2 & 3)

See also SY 78 SW 65 for a similar unit very close by, and SY 78 SW 67 for the second part of this unit.
Horizontal Datum: OGB
Vertical Datum: 116
Method fo Fix: HSA

Possibly sank during trials. Bombardons were steel structures built to constitute part of floating breakwaters to be used in conjunction with the "Mulberry" harbours.

18-JAN-1960: End of sunken bombardon projects approx 15 feet above HW in position 056.25 degrees, 1.72 miles from Weymouth South Pier Light, in 50 37 29N 002 24 13W. Remnants of this wreck on the foreshore approximately 020 degrees from charted position. It is understood that this was washed ashore during a September gale. Preparations made for salvage.

03-OCT-1986: Position examined, least depth of 3.1m in general depth 4m, which may be part of this wreckage.

27-NOV-1991: Not found. Probably salvaged in 1960. See UKHO 013402791 [SY 78 SW 67] (1)

[NB: This site lies in close proximity to a similar bombardon unit [SY 78 SW 65]. It is unclear whether both units were lost in the same incident or context; the date 26-NOV-1944 is derived from source (1), but would appear to be at odds with the statement that they were lost during trials, since the D-Day landings were in June 1944. Source (2) below appears to interpret the two sites as sections of the same wreck.]

Bombardon Unit at 50 37.63N 002 24.20W. This site is on a line of 165 degrees magnetic from Redcliffe Point. The unit that sank here is plainly marked on the Admiralty chart. Another section is marked separately 150 yards SE at 50 34.48N 002 24.09W. The wreck consists of large metal tanks with some metal sheets, and stands on average 1m high, 3m in places. (2)

Date of Loss Qualifier: Approximate date of loss

<2> Hinchcliffe, J and V, 1999, Dive Dorset: a diver guide (3rd Edition), Wreck 153, p117 (Monograph). SWX1.

<3> United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, 1992, Hydrographic Office wreck index (Index). SWX4837.

<3> Le Pard, G, 1995-2003, Dorset Coast Forum Maritime Archaeological Database, Structure 3 & 26 (Digital archive). SWX8707.

<4> Cumming, E, The Dorset shipwreck and maritime incident directory, 14 (Monograph). SDO16406.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 832524 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 18 2024 4:49PM