Rfa Birchoil: Rubha Mealabhaig, South Uist, Sea Of The Hebrides
Oiler (20th Century)
Site Name Rfa Birchoil: Rubha Mealabhaig, South Uist, Sea Of The Hebrides
Classification Oiler (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Birchol; Birchal; Ru Melvich; Benbecula; The Little Minch; Rfa Birchol
Canmore ID 102812
Site Number NF81SW 8004
NGR NF 83404 13123
Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/102812
- Council Western Isles
- Parish South Uist
- Former Region Western Isles Islands Area
- Former District Western Isles
- Former County Inverness-shire
NF81SW 8004 8340 1312
N57 6 W7 13.75
NLO: Rubha Mealabhaig [name: NF 832 128]
Benbecula [name centred NF 82 51]
South Uist [name centred NF 79 33].
Formerly entered as NF82SW 8001 at cited location NF 8424 2411 [N57 6 W7 13.75], and classified as Fueler.
For possible alternative location at NF 8339 1269 [N57 5.77 W7 13.73], see NF81SW 8008.
Quality of fix = PA
Horizontal Datum = OGB
General water depth = 8
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The fleet oiler RFA BIRCHOIL ran ashore.
Source: World War II Shipping Loses.
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
The vessel ran ashore on Ru Melvich on bearing 357 degrees, 6.75 miles from the Trig Point.
24 August 1970. Being offered for tender.
9 October 1970. The wreck was sold to Elliot & Co (divers) Helenburgh.
26 February 1971. The site was investigated by boat using visual and echosounder means. No trace was found and it was assumed to have been dispersed.
Report by HMS HECCLA.
19 August 1975. The wreck is broken up with remains scattered over a large area. There is evidence of recent salvage attempts.
Report by letter from D. Sloan dated 31 July 1975.
28 October 1976. The vessel was not visible on RAF aerial photography dated 1971.
7 August 1984. The position was given as 57 06 00N, 007 13 45W. Only a few plates and a porthole were found at a depth of about 7 metres. Most of the wreck is thought to be in deeper water off Ru Melvick.
Report by Lt M. L. Law, REME.
6 March 1985. The site was dived upon in 1984. The bows of wreck lie close inshore in 3 metres of water and the stern is in 14 metres on a sandy bottom.
Report by P. Camilla, 25 February 1985.
Hydrographic Office, 1995.
(Classified as steel RFA oiler: date of loss cited as 29 November 1939). Birchol: this vessel was lost 357 degs 6.5 cables from trig point: identity uncertain.
Registration: London. Built 1917. 1115grt. Length: 66m. Beam: 10m.
(Alternative locations cited at N57 5.77 W7 13.73 and N57 5.76 W7 15.3).
I G Whittaker 1998.
Material reported under RoW amnesty (2001):
A2712 1 small bronze valve, 1 brass valve wheel: from seabed.
(Name cited as Birchal: location cited [in error] as south end of Benbecula).
NMRS, MS/829/35.
Reference (2011)
Whittaker ID : 126
Name : BIRCHOL
Latitude : 570546
Longitude : 71344
Date Built : 1917
Registration : LONDON
Type : RFA OILER (STEEL)
Tonnage : 1115
Tonnage Code : G
Length : 66
Beam : 10
Draught : 4m
Position : Exact Position
Loss Day : 29
Loss Month : 11
Loss Year : 1939
Comment : 357 degs 6.5 cables from trig pt is 5705.76/0715.30. Is this really BIRCHOL?
Reference (19 April 2012)
UKHO Identifier : 001886
Feature Class : Wreck
State : LIVE
Classification : Unclassified
Position (Lat/long) : 57.10000,-7.22917
Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)
WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 57.09973,-7.23008
WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)
Previous Position : 57.09612,-7.22888
Position Quality : Unreliable
Depth Quality : Depth unknown
Water Depth : 8
Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name : RFA BIRCHOL
Type : FLEET OILER
Flag : BRITISH
Length : 67.1
Beam : 10.7
Draught : 4.3
Tonnage : 2407
Tonnage Type : Gross
Date Sunk : 29/11/1939
Contact Description : Notable debris
Original Sensor : Reported Sinking
Last Sensor : Diver Sighting
Original Detection Year : 1939
Last Detection Year : 1985
Original Source : Unknown
Last Source : Divers
Circumstances of Loss : **RAN ASHORE.
Surveying Details : **ON RU MELVICH 357 DEGREES 6.75 MILES FROM TRIG PT. (AUTHORITY & DATA NOT KNOWN).
**H7923/39 18.12.39 INS AS ST IN 570546N, 071344W. - NM 2843/39.
**24.8.70 BEING OFFERED FOR TENDER.
**9.10.70 SOLD TO ELLIOT & CO (DIVERS), HELENSBURGH.
**H3156/69 26.2.71 INVESTIGATED BY BOAT USING VISUAL & E/S. NO TRACE. ASSUMED DISPERSED. (HMS HECLA, HI53/70). DELETED. BR STD.
**H1286/75 19.8.75 WRECK BROKEN UP, REMAINS SCATTERED OVER LARGE AREA. EVIDENCE OF RECENT SALVAGE ATTEMPTS. (D SLOAN, LTR DTD 31.7.75).
**28.10.76 NOT VISIBLE ON RAF AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY DATED 1971. (MS5 PHOT 28.10.76).
**H1309/75 7.8.84 POSN GIVEN AS 570600N, 071345W. ONLY A FEW PLATES AND PORTHOLE FOUND IN DEPTH OF ABOUT 7MTRS. MOST OF WK THOUGHT TO BE IN DEEPER WATER OFF RU MELVICK. (LT M J LAW, REME).
**H1310/85/9 6.3.85 DIVED ON IN 1984. BOWS OF WK LIE CLOSE INSHORE IN 3MTRS OF WATER AND THE STERN IS IN 14MTRS ON A SANDY BOTTOM. (P CAMILLA, 25.2.85).
Charting Comments : POSN FOR FILING ONLY
Date Last Amended : 20/02/2001
Date Position Last Amended : 28/08/1984
