Following the launch of trove.scot in February 2025 we are now planning the retiral of some of our webservices. Canmore will be switched off on 24th June 2025. Information about the closure can be found on the HES website: Retiral of HES web services | Historic Environment Scotland
Swallow: Luce Bay, Solway Firth
Drifter (20th Century)
Site Name Swallow: Luce Bay, Solway Firth
Classification Drifter (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) West Freugh Weapons Range; Swallow
Canmore ID 101651
Site Number NX14NE 8003
NGR NX 19472 45549
Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/101651
- Council Dumfries And Galloway
- Parish Maritime - Dumfries And Galloway
- Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
NX14NE 8003 1946 4554
N54 46.3333 W4 48.4167
NLO: Luce Bay [name centred NX 20 45].
Formerly entered as NX14NE 1 and NX14NE 8062.
(Location cited as N54 46.20 W4 48.25. This vessel was located in 1980, and identified from her nameplate. The intact hull lies on its starboard side; all the machinery has been removed. She was apparently built as a drifter, used as a lightship, and used as an MoD target vessel until sunk in a storm in the late 1960's).
P C Miller 1992.
Horizontal Datum = OGB
General water depth = 16
Orientation of keel/wreck = EW
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The vessel sank during a gale in 1967 or 1968.
Report by P. C. Miller.
Surveying Details
-------------------------
5 February 1983. The wreck was located in Luce Bay at approximatey 54 46 10N, 004 48 30W, while recovering trawler's nets. It is probably old target vessel from the MOD range.
Report by P. C. Miller, 19 January 1983.
3 June 1983. The wreck was again dived on and identified as the SWALLOW. Probably an ex-drifter, later used as a lightship, and later again used as a target ship. The vessel is about 80 feet (24.3 metres) long, with its keel lying on an orientation of 90/270 degrees. The vessel is on its side. The highest point stands 5 metres off the seabed in a general depth of 16 metres. There is no danger to shipping.
Report by P. C. Miller, 24 May 1983.
There is some doubt as to the position - hence no charting action taken by the Hydrographic Office.
15 April 1988. The amended position is 54 46 20N, 004 48 25W.
Report by P. C. Miller, 28 March 1988.
Hydrographic Office 1995.
(Classified as drifter: no date of loss cited). Swallow: this vessel is reported to have been a target ship in the 1960's.
(Location cited as N54 46.25 W4 48.25).
I G Whittaker 1998.
This vessel is charted [Wk] with charted depth of 9m in a general depth of between 11 and 14m on UKHO chart no. 2094 (1978, revised 1990). It lies to the NE of Target Barge M5 of the West Freugh weapons range. No seabed type is indicated nearby.
The equation of this wreck with the recorded loss of the Swallow (as cited by Miller) is accepted.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 24 September 2009.
Loss (1967)
(Classified as drifter: no date of loss cited). Swallow: this vessel is reported to have been a target ship in the 1960's.
(Location cited as N54 46.25 W4 48.25).
I G Whittaker 1998.
Evidence Of Loss (1980)
(Location cited as N54 46.20 W4 48.25. This vessel was located in 1980, and identified from her nameplate. The intact hull lies on its starboard side; all the machinery has been removed. She was apparently built as a drifter, used as a lightship, and used as an MoD target vessel until sunk in a storm in the late 1960's).
P C Miller 1992.
Horizontal Datum = OGB
General water depth = 16
Orientation of keel/wreck = EW
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The vessel sank during a gale in 1967 or 1968.
Report by P. C. Miller.
Surveying Details
-------------------------
5 February 1983. The wreck was located in Luce Bay at approximatey 54 46 10N, 004 48 30W, while recovering trawler's nets. It is probably old target vessel from the MOD range.
Report by P. C. Miller, 19 January 1983.
3 June 1983. The wreck was again dived on and identified as the SWALLOW. Probably an ex-drifter, later used as a lightship, and later again used as a target ship. The vessel is about 80 feet (24.3 metres) long, with its keel lying on an orientation of 90/270 degrees. The vessel is on its side. The highest point stands 5 metres off the seabed in a general depth of 16 metres. There is no danger to shipping.
Report by P. C. Miller, 24 May 1983.
There is some doubt as to the position - hence no charting action taken by the Hydrographic Office.
15 April 1988. The amended position is 54 46 20N, 004 48 25W.
Report by P. C. Miller, 28 March 1988.
Hydrographic Office 1995.
Note (24 September 2009)
This vessel is charted [Wk] with charted depth of 9m in a general depth of between 11 and 14m on UKHO chart no. 2094 (1978, revised 1990). It lies to the NE of Target Barge M5 of the West Freugh weapons range. No seabed type is indicated nearby.
The equation of this wreck with the recorded loss of the Swallow (as cited by Miller) is accepted.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 24 September 2009.
Reference (2011)
Whittaker ID : 7142
Name : SWALLOW
Latitude : 544615
Longitude : 44815
Type : DRIFTER
Comment : Reported to have been a target ship in the 1960's
Reference (19 April 2012)
UKHO Identifier : 005384
Feature Class : Wreck
Wreck Category : Dangerous wreck
State : DEAD
Classification : Unclassified
Position (Lat/long) : 54.77222,-4.80694
Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)
WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 54.77230,-4.80809
WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)
Previous Position : 54.76945,-4.80833
Position Quality : Precisely known
Depth : 9.0
Depth Quality : Least depth known
Water Depth : 16
Water Level Effect : Always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name : SWALLOW
Type : DRIFTER
Flag : BRITISH
Sonar Length : 24.4
Shadow Height : 5.0
Orientation : 90.0
Contact Description : Entire wreck
Original Sensor : Physical Snag
Last Sensor : Diver Sighting
Original Detection Year : 1983
Last Detection Year : 1983
Original Source : Divers
Last Source : Divers
Circumstances of Loss : **SANK DURING A GALE IN 1967 OR 1968.
Surveying Details : **H1281/83 5.2.83 WK LOCATED IN LUCE BAY IN APPROX POSN 544610N, 044830W, WHILE RECOVERING TRAWLER'S NETS. PROBABLY OLD TARGET VESSEL FROM MOD RANGE. (P C MILLER, 19.1.83).
**H1310/83 3.6.83 WK AGAIN DIVED ON. IDENTIFIED AS THE SWALLOW. PROBABLY AN EX-DRIFTER, LATER USED AS A LIGHTSHIP AND LATER AGAIN AS A TARGET SHIP. ABOUT 80FT LONG, LYING E/W ON ITS SIDE. HIGHEST POINT STANDS 5MTRS IN GENERAL DEPTH 16MTRS. NO DANGER TO SHIPPING. (P C MILLER, 24.5.83). SOME DOUBT AS TO POSN. NCA YET.
**H1310/88 15.4.88 AMENDED POSN IS 544620N, 044825W. (P C MILLER, 28.3.88). INS AS WK 9MTRS - NM 1355/88.
POSITIONS BELOW THIS POINT ARE IN DEGREES, MINUTES AND DECIMALS OF A MINUTE
**HH091/046/01 12.11.03 NOT LOCATED BY MULTIBEAM AND DCS3. (HMSML GLEANER, HI 1046). AMEND DEAD. BR STD.
General Comments : INTACT, ON ITS SIDE, LENGTH/HT BY DIVER
Chart Symbol : WK 9.0
Date Last Amended : 12/11/2003
Date Position Last Amended : 15/04/1988
