Experts Identify North Sea Shipwreck To Be Lost WWI Warship Sunk By German Torpedo

A shipwreck found off the coast of Aberdeenshire, Scotland has been identified as a World War I Royal Navy Warship, HMS Hawke.

It was sunk by a German torpedo on October 15, 1914, when it was patrolling the North Sea, killing over 500 of its crew. It was in flames and after an explosion, it sank in less than 8 minutes with only 70 sailors alive.

The wreck of the ship was discovered 70 miles east of Fraserburgh by ‘Lost in Waters Deep’, a team of volunteer researchers and divers who look for shipwrecks near U.K and remember their history.

The ship was actually found in August and is in great condition, probably because of its depth and because it was never touched before, said diver Steve Mortimer. He also said that it is a remarkable site and one can see open scuttles and artefacts on the deck, such as crockery used by the Royal Navy, plates, bowls, tea cups.

There are two massive guns, one at the bow and another at the stern, an admiral’s walkway near the stern, teak decking and navigation equipment.

After the evidence including video footage, pictures and scans were assessed, Royal Navy Experts finally confirmed that the wreck was in fact the HMS Hawke.

HMS Hawke was an Edgar-Class Cruiser and was over 2 decades old and hit the headlines in 1911 when it collided with the Liner Olympic, the older sister of the Titanic in the Solent, losing her bow due to the impact.

After war began in August 1914, the warship was given the task to enforce a naval blockade of Germany to prevent shipping from reaching or leaving the ports in the North Sea. It was ordered to patrol between Scotland and Norway until she was seen by the U-9, a German submarine.

References: Royal Navy, BBC