Hms King Edward Vii: Strathy Point, Pentland Firth

NC78SW 8001 7196 8306

N58 43 W4 12

NLO: Strathy Point [name: NC 827 699]

Pentland Firth [name centred ND 35 81].

See also NC98SW 8001.

Quality of fix = PA

Horizontal Datum = OGB

General water depth = 60

Circumstances of Loss Details

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HMS KING EDWARD VII struck a mine in a minefield laid by the German raider MOEVE [Moewe] across the west entrance of the Pentland Firth. She was taken in tow but sank 9 hours later after being abandoned by the entire ship's company.

Source: Dictionary of Disasters at Sea.

Surveying Details

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12 December 1957. A request for information has been received with reference to possible salvage.

4 March 1970. The wreck's position is quoted as 58 43 00N, 003 12 00W

Report by Naval Historical Branch.

20 December 1982. It is reported from a source that the vessel sank in the approximate position 15 miles NNW of Strathy Point at 58 43 00N, 004 12 00W.

Report by Lt Cdr Parker, MCM Route Survey Officer 17 December 1982.

Note by Wrecks Officer - 15 miles NNW of Strathy Point plots at 58 47 00N, 004 20 00W, approximately.

Hydrographic Office, 1995.

(Classified as battleship: date of loss cited as 6 January 1916). HMS King Edward VII: this vessel was mined, towed for 9 hours, and sank between Cape Wrath and Scapa.

Registration: London. Built 1903. 16350 tons displacement. Length: 128m. Beam: 24m.

(Location of loss cited as N58 42.37 W3 53.57).

I G Whittaker 1998.

Length: 454ft (138.4m).

Beam: 78ft (23.8m)

Displacement: 17,500 tons

Propulsion: 2 x coal- and oil-fired triple expansion engines (4 cylinders); 2 propellors; 18,000 hp; 19 kts.

Guns: 4 x 12 ins (305mm); 4 x 9.2 ins (234mm); 10 x 6 ins (152mm); 12 x 12 pdr or smaller.

Armour: 6-12 ins (152-305mm)

Torpedo tubes: 5 x 18 ins (457mm)

Complement: 777

This pre-Dreadnought battleship was the first and name ship of the King Edward class. She was built at Devonport Dockyard, being laid down in March 1902, launched in July 1903 and completed in 1905. At the outbreak of war, the eight ships of the class (the 'wobbly eight') were formed into the Third Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet. This ship was mined and sunk off Cape Wrath on 6 January 1916.

The cited location (N58 43 W4 12) falls in a depth of about 90m on a nearly level seabed of fine sand.

(More detailed specification cited by Jane).

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 2 September 2002 and 17 December 2002.

H M Le Fleming 1961; R and B Larn 1998; [Jane] 2001.

HO chart 1954 (1982).

Plans and photographs of this vessel are held in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.

(For online catalogue of negatives, see www.nmm.ac.uk/historicphotographs).

Information from Ms G Fabri (NMM), 7 November 2003.