Gretafield [after Part]: Dunbeath Bay, North Sea
Tanker (20th Century)
Site Name Gretafield [after Part]: Dunbeath Bay, North Sea
Classification Tanker (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Mole Head; Gretafield
Canmore ID 101970
Site Number ND12NE 8002
NGR ND 1633 2901
Datum Datum not recorded
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/101970
- Council Highland
- Parish Maritime - Highland
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
ND12NE 8002 1633 2901
N58 14.53 W3 25.5
NLO: Dunbeath [name: ND 161 296]
Dunbeath Bay [name centred ND 164 291]
Dunbeath Castle [name: ND 159 282].
See also ND12NE 8001.
Formerly entered as Site no. 8480.
Tanker GRETAFIELD, 1019 ton, of Newcastle, from America to Invergordon. Lost at Dunbeath, 8 miles from Clythness lighthouse. SE breeze, moderate sea. Torpedoed & set on fire. 11 lost, 30 saved. cargo oil. Drifted ashore on 15 Feb.
[Contemporary] source: Northern Lighthouse Board.
Quality of fix = PA
Horizontal Datum = OGB
General water depth = 10
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The tanker GRETAFIELD was torpedoed and caught fire. It was beached and blazed for several days. 11 were killed.
29 November 1960.The vessel was torpedoed about 20 miles off Wick. She drifted and grounded off Dunbeath Harbour, and subsequently broke her back and settled in the positions quoted.
Report by Harbourmaster, Dunbeath.
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
A position bearing 167 degrees and 277 metres east of Mole Head is given for the after part of the wreck.
Report by Harbourmaster, Dunbeath.
See the fore part of wreck in same position.
20 July 1977. The wreck's position, given as bearing 210 degrees and 481 metres from Dunbeath, is no danger to general navigation.
Report by Northern Lighthouse Board, 8 March 1946.
Hydrographic Office, 1995.
(Classified as steel tanker, with cargo of fuel oil: date of loss cited as 15 February 1940). Gretafield: this vessel was torpedoed by U-57, [and] beached 2.6 cables 210 degrees from Dunbeath pier.
Registration: Newcastle. Built 1928. 10191grt. Length: 150m. Beam: 20m.
(Location of loss cited as N58 14.75 W3 25.00).
I G Whittaker 1998.
The location assigned to this record remains unverified. Clythness (Ousbacky) Lighthouse (ND23NE 29) is at ND 29072 36294, while Dunbeath (Portormin) Harbour (ND12NE 6.00) is centred at ND 16604 29368. The location of 'Mole Head' cannot be established from the available map evidence, but it is possibly to be equated with Portormin Head [name: ND 168 292] on the NE side of Dunbeath Bay.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 6 January 2011.
Loss (15 February 1940)
Tanker GRETAFIELD, 1019 ton, of Newcastle, from America to Invergordon. Lost at Dunbeath, 8 miles from Clythness lighthouse. SE breeze, moderate sea. Torpedoed & set on fire. 11 lost, 30 saved. cargo oil. Drifted ashore on 15 Feb.
[Contemporary] source: Northern Lighthouse Board.
(Classified as steel tanker, with cargo of fuel oil: date of loss cited as 15 February 1940). Gretafield: this vessel was torpedoed by U-57, [and] beached 2.6 cables 210 degrees from Dunbeath pier.
Registration: Newcastle. Built 1928. 10191grt. Length: 150m. Beam: 20m.
(Location of loss cited as N58 14.75 W3 25.00).
I G Whittaker 1998.
Evidence Of Loss (1995)
Quality of fix = PA
Horizontal Datum = OGB
General water depth = 10
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The tanker GRETAFIELD was torpedoed and caught fire. It was beached and blazed for several days. 11 were killed.
29 November 1960.The vessel was torpedoed about 20 miles off Wick. She drifted and grounded off Dunbeath Harbour, and subsequently broke her back and settled in the positions quoted.
Report by Harbourmaster, Dunbeath.
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
A position bearing 167 degrees and 277 metres east of Mole Head is given for the after part of the wreck.
Report by Harbourmaster, Dunbeath.
See the fore part of wreck in same position.
20 July 1977. The wreck's position, given as bearing 210 degrees and 481 metres from Dunbeath, is no danger to general navigation.
Report by Northern Lighthouse Board, 8 March 1946.
Hydrographic Office, 1995.
Note (6 January 2011)
The location assigned to this record remains unverified. Clythness (Ousbacky) Lighthouse (ND23NE 29) is at ND 29072 36294, while Dunbeath (Portormin) Harbour (ND12NE 6.00) is centred at ND 16604 29368. The location of 'Mole Head' cannot be established from the available map evidence, but it is possibly to be equated with Portormin Head [name: ND 168 292] on the NE side of Dunbeath Bay.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 6 January 2011.
Reference (2011)
Whittaker ID : 569
Name : GRETAFIELD
Latitude : 581445
Longitude : 32500
Date Built : 1928
Registration : NEWCASTLE
Type : STEAM TANKER(STEEL)
Tonnage : 10191
Tonnage Code : G
Length : 150
Beam : 20
Draught : 12m
Position : Position Approximate
Loss Day : 15
Loss Month : 2
Loss Year : 1940
Comment : Torped, beached 2.6 cables 210 degs from Dunbeath pier (by U-57)
Cargo : FUEL OIL
Note (16 March 2012)
Both portions of this wreck are apparent on RAF vertical air phoptograph NLA/1 - 1PRU F14 P, flown 6 February 1941.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 16 March 2012.
