Maritime record TQ 87 SE 86 - HMS Princess Irene

Summary

Possible remains of a minelayer that exploded in 1915.

Location

Grid reference TQ 87361 73550 (point) FCE
Map sheet TQ87SE
County KENT
Civil Parish ISLE OF GRAIN, MEDWAY, KENT
Unitary Authority MEDWAY

Map

Type and Period (2)

Full Description

Wreck site and archaeological remains:

Vertical Datum: LAT
Quality of Depth: SWS
(1)

01-NOV-1962 Remains of HMS PRINCESS IRENE found off No 6 jetty, Kent Oil Refinery. Handed over to Admiralty. Dispersal works in progress 800ft S of No 6 jetty, BP Refinery (Kent) Ltd. (1)

09-MAY-1963 Lucas wire drift sweep. Clear at 21ft, foul at 22ft. (1)

23-MAY-1990 Obstruction removed in 51 25 48.0N, 000 41 33.0E. Presumed to be part of this wreck. (1)

01-SEP-2005: Remains of wreck may have to be moved. Pilots are concerence that new, large container vessels using Thamesport may hit the wreck and be holed - Motor Boat Monthly, September 05 edn. (7)(8)

Wreck event and documentary evidence:

The HMS PRINCESS IRENE was carrying 400 mines. She was blown up by an internal explosion, 1915. Cause unknown. 278 lives lost (Description of loss in "Ships Monthly", DEC-1987). (1)

Hired as a minelayer 20-JAN-1915, blown up by accident in Sheerness Harbour, 27-MAY-1915. (2)

'The minelayer PRINCESS IRENE, a ferry taken up from trade for minelaying duties, was lying at Sheerness when she was destroyed by an internal explosion on 27 May 1917.' (3)

Destroyed by internal explosion at Sheerness. (4)

'The liner PRINCESS IRENE, Capt. M.H. Coble, and her sister ship the PRINCESS MARGARET, were two new vessels completed in 1914 and taken over by the Admiralty for service as minelayers. On 27th May 1915, the PRINCESS IRENE was lying in Sheerness Harbour undergoing repairs. In addition to her crew she had 78 dockyard workmen on board, when, at about 11.15 am, she blew up. Two columns of flame, estimated to have reached a height of 300 feet, shot up from the ship in quick succession, followed by a tremendous explosion. At the time of the disaster there were 30 officers and 23 ratings on board, in addition to the dockyard workmen. Only one workman and a few seamen escaped.' (5)

Built: 1914 (4)
Launch date: 20-OCT-1914 (6)
Date of completion: MAR-1915 (6)
Builder: W Denny & Bros (5)(6)
Where built: Dumbarton (6)
Armament: 2 x 4.7",2 x 12pdr, 500 mines. (2)
Machinery: Turbine engines (5)
Master: Capt. M. H. Cole RN (3) Capt. M. H. Coble (5)
Crew casualties: 51 (3)
Crew saved: 2 (2)
Civilian casualties: 77 (3)
Owner: Royal Navy (5)(6)
Original owner: Canadian Pacific Railway Co. (5)


<1> Hydrographic Office wreck index, Extracted 20-JAN-1993, Page Nos. N/a (Bibliographic reference). SKE6339.

<2> J J Colledge, 1989, Ships of the Royal Navy, volume 2: navy-built trawlers, drifters, tugs and requisitioned ships from (Bibliographic reference). SKE6344.

<4> HMSO, 1988, British vessels lost at sea 1914-18 and 1939-45 (Bibliographic reference). SKE6346.

<5> Charles Hocking, 1990, Dictionary of Disasters at Sea during the Age of Steam (Bibliographic reference). SKE6351.

<6> Peter Higginbotham, Higginbotham, Peter. 2000. The Workhouse. (Website). SKE53741.

<7> SeaZone Hydrospatial, 2018, Digital marine geographic information derived from SeaZone Hydrospatial (Digital archive). SKE55742.

Sources/Archives (6)

  • <1> Bibliographic reference: Hydrographic Office wreck index. Extracted 20-JAN-1993, Page Nos. N/a.
  • <2> Bibliographic reference: J J Colledge. 1989. Ships of the Royal Navy, volume 2: navy-built trawlers, drifters, tugs and requisitioned ships from .
  • <4> Bibliographic reference: HMSO. 1988. British vessels lost at sea 1914-18 and 1939-45.
  • <5> Bibliographic reference: Charles Hocking. 1990. Dictionary of Disasters at Sea during the Age of Steam.
  • <6> Website: Peter Higginbotham. Higginbotham, Peter. 2000. The Workhouse..
  • <7> Digital archive: SeaZone Hydrospatial. 2018. Digital marine geographic information derived from SeaZone Hydrospatial.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Jul 22 2024 5:00PM