Reference
Date 19 April 2012
Event ID 936524
Category Documentary Reference
Type Reference
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/936524
UKHO Identifier : 001231
Feature Class : Wreck
Wreck Category : Non-dangerous wreck
State : LIVE
Classification : Unclassified
Position (Lat/long) : 58.77083,-2.93000
Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)
WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 58.77043,-2.93160
WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)
Position Quality : Precisely known
Depth Quality : Depth unknown
Water Depth : 8
Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name : HMS OPAL
Type : DESTROYER
Flag : BRITISH
Length : 84.1
Beam : 8.2
Orientation : 0.0
Tonnage : 1042
Tonnage Type : Displacement
Date Sunk : 12/01/1918
Contact Description : Notable debris
Original Sensor : Reported Sinking
Last Sensor : Diver Sighting
Original Detection Year : 1918
Last Detection Year : 1986
Original Source : Unknown
Last Source : Other
Circumstances of Loss : **AN M CLASS DESTROYER. BUILT IN 1915 BY W DOXFORD & CO. THREE BOILERS, S TURBINES OF 25000NHP, TWIN SHAFT. PASSAGE FROM EAST COAST WAR PATROL. WRECKED IN VIOLENT GALE AND SNOW STORM TOGETHER WITH HMS NARBOROUGH. ONLY ONE MAN SURVIVED FROM BOTH SHIPS.
Surveying Details : **POSN 584615N, 025548W. OPAL IN SAME POSN AT CLETT OF CLURA, WINDWICK. (AUTHORITY NOT STATED)
**H1939/26 24.3.26 WRECKS LYING CLOSE UNDER CLIFFS, HEADING IN NORTHERLY DIRECTION ABOUT 80YDS FROM EACH OTHER. NORTHERN VESSEL A MASS OF BROKEN IRON WORK ON LEDGE OF ROCK. SOUTHERN VESSEL LESS BROKEN & IN DEEPER WATER. NO MAST OR FUNNELS SHOWING & BOTH ALMOST ENTIRELY SUBMERGED AT HW. POSN 584615N, 025548W. (EXTRACT FROM N.L. 4432/18(X3003/18)). INS AS 2 DW (1918). BR STD.
**C.P. 26977/36 21.9.36 WRECKS NOW OWNED BY MESSRS SOUTHERLAND AND MAWAT.
**H5465/58 5.3.58 AMEND TO DW. NC 2162.
**H1310/86/20 7.8.86 NORTHERLY AREA OF WK SITE DIVED. MUCH SCATTERED WRECKAGE AND 3 INCH SHELL CASES, WELL BATTERED AND ERODED BY TIDAL ACTION, LITTER THE SEABED. NO DANGER TO NAVIGATION. GEN DEPTH 11MTRS - ROCKY BOTTOM SLOPING SEAWARDS. (B. WINFIELD, 26.7.86). AMEND TO NDW. BR STD.
Chart Symbol : NDW
Date Last Amended : 18/11/2003
