Archaeology Notes

Event ID 760508

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/760508

NC18SW 8003 1482 8218

N58 41.28 W5 11.71

NLO: Cape Wrath [name: NC 256 750].

Formerly entered as NC18SW 8399.

Quality of fix = HF6

Evidence = Echo sounder

Horizontal Datum = OGB

General water depth = 68

Orientation of keel/wreck = ENE/WSW

Circumstances of Loss Details

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The steamship MANIPUR was built 1920. She was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U57, whilst en-route from Baltimore/Halifax to London in convoy HX.55a. She was owned at the time of loss by T & J Brocklebank.

Sources: Dictionary of Disasters at Sea, World War II Shipping Loses, Axis Submarine Successes.

Surveying Details

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10 January 1940. The wreck's position is given as 58 41 00N, 005 14 00W. It is also given as 6 miles NW of Cape Wrath.

23 Decemer 1971. A salvage contract has been taken by Risdon Beazley Ulrick Harms. Some recoveries were made.

Report by Department of Trade and Industry, November 1971.

7 December 1976. The wreck is a cargo vessel, lying in 2 parts. It was located at decca [n scot] red b 8.70, green a 37.19, purple d 65.35. Report by Risdon Beazley, 27 October 1976 - the wreck was first located in 1956-57.

Note: this plots to 58 41 23N, 005 11 52W.

10 May 1984. The position was investigated on 23 September 1983. Nothing was found except a 1 point contact, possibly debris, standing 1 metre high at 58 41 02N, 005 14 04W. A large well broken up wreck was located at 58 41 17N, 005 11 43W using west Orkney hyperfix patts 2-1, 6-4, 5-1, giving NGR eastings 214825, and northings 982170. The least echosounder depth was 60 in a general depth of 68 metres. No scouring was observed. The side scan sonar indicated a height of 8 metres, length 200 metres (656 feet), and width of 40 metres (131 feet). The vessel is lying with its keel orientated 068/247 degrees.

Report by Racal Survey.

4 July 1986. Salvage operations are taking place at a position bearing 301 degrees, 7.2 miles from Cape Wrath. The site is marked by 4 x 1.2 diameter soft orange foam buoys.

Report by Kilburns Salvage Company Ltd, 19 June 1986.

Hydrographic Office, 1995.

(Classified as steel steamship, with general cargo: date of loss cited as 17 July 1940). Manipur: this vessel was torpedoed 6 miles NW of Cape Wrath, bu U-57 at German position AM3662.

Registration: Liverpool. Built 1920. 8652grt. Length: 142m. Beam: 19m.

(Location of loss cited as N58 41.25 W5 12.0).

I G Whittaker 1998.

The equation of this wreck with that of the Manipur remains apparently unverified, but is accepted.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 13 June 2008.