Accessibility

Font Size

100% 150% 200%

Background Colour

Default Contrast
Close Reset

Sms Moltke: Bring Deeps, Scapa Flow, Orkney

Salvage Debris (20th Century), Battlecruiser (20th Century)

Site Name Sms Moltke: Bring Deeps, Scapa Flow, Orkney

Classification Salvage Debris (20th Century), Battlecruiser (20th Century)

Alternative Name(s) Holm Of Houton; Calf Of Cava; Green Head; Ward Point; Moltke

Canmore ID 102291

Site Number ND39NW 8045

NGR ND 31645 98969

Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/102291

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Copyright and database right 2024.

Toggle Aerial | View on large map

Administrative Areas

  • Council Orkney Islands
  • Parish Maritime - Orkney
  • Former Region Orkney Islands Area
  • Former District Maritime
  • Former County Not Applicable

Archaeology Notes

ND39NW 8045 3164 9897

N58 52.3833 W3 11.1333

NLO: Bring Deeps [name centred HY 300 022]

Holm of Houton [name: HY 315 029]

Calf of Cava [name: HY 322 006]

Cava [name: ND 327 995]

Barrel of Butter [name: HY 352 009]

Point of Tuberry (Cava) [name: HY 334 993]

Stromness [name: HY 253 090]

Scapa Flow [name centred HY 36 00].

For other ships within this group, see:

HY30SW 8001 Kaiser (battleship)

HY30SW 8003 Prinzregent Luitpold (battleship)

HY30SW 8005 Kaiserin (battleship)

HY30SW 8006 Karlsruhe (cruiser)

HY30SW 8013 Konig Albert (battleship)

HY30SW 8016 Derfflinger (battlecruiser)

HY30SE 8006 Baden (battleship: secondary location)

ND39NW 8041 Seydlitz (battlecruiser)

ND39NW 8049 Hindenburg (battlecruiser)

ND39NW 8050 Von der Tann (battlecruiser)

ND39NW 8051 Nurnberg (cruiser).

Formerly entered as ND39NW 8831.

For general plans of High Seas Fleet (Internment Formation) wrecks in Scapa Flow, see Van der Vat 1986 (endpapers), Smith 1989, 4, Macdonald 1998, 19 and George 1999, 35.

Raised by Cox and Danks, 1927. Noted as foul ground.

P L Smith 1989.

Listed among 'German salvage sites'.

G Ridley 1992.

Horizontal Datum = OGB

Buoyage =

General water depth = 19

Circumstances of Loss Details

-----------------------------

The German battlecruiser MOLTKE was scuttled.

Surveying Details

-----------------------------

1919. A dangerous wreck, which dries to reveal 1.3 metres, is reported at 58 52 23N, 003 11 08W.

1926. A request was made by Cox and Danks to purchase the wreck.

1926/27. The vessel was successfully raised on 10 June 1927 and is to be towed to Cava, and later to Rosyth.

Source: Jutland to Junkyard, by C J George.

23 October 1939. The vessel's former position is now charted as a foul area.

2 July 1980. The wreck's former postion is now charted as foul ground.

Hydrographic Office, 1995.

Length overall: 610ft (186m)

Length waterline: 590ft 6ins (180m)

Beam: 96ft 9ins (29.5m)

Max draught: 28ft (8.5m)

Displacement: 23,000 tons

Propulsion: 24 Schultz-Thorneycroft boilers (mixed coal/oil); two-stage Parsons steam turbines; 70,000 (designed) shp; 4 screws; 27/28kts

Fuel: coal 3300 tons max (1000 tons normal); oil c. 200 tons (plus 600 tons on deck)

Armament: 10 x 28cm (11ins: 50-cal: twin turrets); 12 x 15cm (5.9ins: 45 cal: single mountings); 12 x 24 pdr; 4 x 50cm (19.7ins) torpedo tubes (all submerged).

Armour: main (belt), 11 ins (28 cm); turrets 10.5ins (26.7cm).

Complement: 1107

This ship was the first and name-ship of the two-strong Moltke class, her sister being the SMS Goeben of Turkish Straits fame. In concept, these ships were an enlarged version of the Von der Tann and had the same protection as a battleship, although their low forecastles tended to ship water in a seaway.

She was built by Blohm and Voss at Hamburg, being laid down (as part of the 1908 programme) in April 1909 and launched on 4 July 191030 March 1912 and completed in October 1911. She fought at both the Battles of the Dogger Bank (January 1915) and Jutland (May 1916).

After scuttling, this ship lay in about 80ft (24m) depth of water and listed by seventeen degrees, bringing one of the bilges close to the surface at low water and making her a danger to navigation; several trawlers ran onto the wreck.

She was the first of the heavy ships to be raised by Cox and Danks, being raised inverted with the use of compressed air. The preparatory sealing process was completed in May 1927, a destroyer [unspecified] being secured alongside to counter her list. An initial attempt at lifting proved unsuccessful as the attached wires broke through chafing over the edge of the armoured deck. Metal 'cushions' were inserted before the wreck was finally raised in May 1928.

Her progress to beaching at Lyness was then delayed by one of her guns being snagged on the seabed. This was blown off and some 3000 tons of metal removed before the tow to Rosyth started (behind three German tugs) on 18 May 1928. This proved eventful, as the wreck both came close to sinking and running aground in bad weather and ran amuck in the Firth of Forth, passing under the Forth Rail Bridge while not under command owing to a disagreement between the pilots. She was finally broken up (still inverted) by the Alloa Shipbreaking Co Ltd.

The cited location of this wreck falls 1.1nm SSW of Calf of Cava light and within an extensive area of foul ground. The charted depth at this point is about 19m, and the seabed is noted as mixed gravel, sand and shell a short distance to the S.

This ship may be considered as falling within the Bring Deeps group of heavy ships, which were scuttled within the area defined by Holm of Houton [name: HY 315 029], Calf of Cava [name: HY 322 006] and Green Head (Hoy) [name: ND 303 993].

Bring Deeps may be understood as a south-eastwards extension of Hoy Sound. It has a generally flat bottom at a charted depth of between 35 and 50m; the seabed type is defined sparingly but is apparently sandy. An area of spoil ground is noted around N58 53.9 W3 12.2 [HY 30 01], and may attest to the former presence of the High Seas Fleet.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 6 January 2003.

H M Le Fleming 1961; D Van der Vat 1986; S C George 1999; Jane [2001].

HO Chart 35 (1980, revised 1991).

This vessel is considered a 'casualty' rather than a craft on account of its successful salvage, the available evidence being written rather than material. In the absence of diver survey, however, artifacts, fittings and, possibly, structural elements may survive on or in the seabed at the location of scuttling. Depressions in the seabed may also represent the locations of the turrets or superstructure.

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 10 January 2003.

Activities

Reference (19 April 2012)

UKHO Identifier : 001062

Feature Class : Obstn

Obstruction Category : Foul ground

State : LIVE

Classification : Unclassified

Position (Lat/long) : 58.87306,-3.18556

Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)

WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 58.87264,-3.18712

WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)

Position Quality : Precisely known

Depth Quality : Depth unknown

Water Depth : 19

Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide

Name : MOLTKE

Type : BATTLE CRUISER

Flag : GERMAN

Length : 185.9

Beam : 29.3

Draught : 8.2

Tonnage : 22640

Tonnage Type : Displacement

Date Sunk : 21/06/1919

Contact Description : Notable debris

Original Sensor : Reported Sinking

Last Sensor : None reported

Original Detection Year : 1919

Last Detection Year : 1939

Original Source : Other

Last Source : Other

Circumstances of Loss : **SCUTTLED.

Surveying Details : **H8464/19 DWP, DRIES 4.5FT, SHOWN IN 585223N, 031108W ON SURVEY C7953. INS DWP (1919) (DRIES 4.5 FEET). BR STD.

**H6229/23 13.7.23 INS ON NE 2578 AND ON OTHER SCALES. - NM 1523/23.

**CP18217/26 REQUEST BY COX AND DANKS FOR PURCHASE.

**CP26151/26 CP27427/26 CP29732/26 CP32412/26 CP33169/26 CP35014/26 CP33512/26 SALVAGED.

**H143/26 SALVAGED.

**H3872/27 2.7.27 CP2170/27 CP4613/27 CP8203/27 CP10724/27 CP11843/27 CP15228/27. SALVAGED. DELETE. - NM 1105/27.

**CP16478/27 CP17007/27 SUCCESSFULLY RAISED. TO BE TOWED TO CAVA.

**H1896/28 TOWED TO ROSYTH.

**CP14850/28 LEFT ROSYTH.

**RAISED 10.6.27. (JUTLAND TO JUNKYARD, C.J. GEORGE).

**23.10.39 POSN NOW CHARTED AS FOUL AREA. BR STD.

**2.7.80 POSN NOW CHARTED AS FOUL GROUND. BR STD.

POSITIONS BELOW THIS POINT ARE IN DEGREES, MINUTES AND DECIMALS OF A MINUTE

**7.10.10 NOT LOCATED BY M/B. (FATHOMS LTD, POST SDC BATHY REPROCESSING). COVERED BY LEGEND 'FOUL GROUND'. NCA.

Chart Symbol : F

Charting Comments : LEGEND: 'FOUL GROUND', FOUL NOT CHARTED

Date Last Amended : 07/10/2010

Side Scan Sonar Survey (4 April 2017)

Side scan sonar data identified a large number of anomalies in the vicinity of the primary scuttling site of Sms Moltke. The spread of the debris extends from the scuttling site in a north easterly direction over an area of around 11 hectares.

All locations given to UTM 30 N (WGS84 datum).

(SS001) X: 489258; Y 6525790. Pinnace engine

(SS002) X: 489259; Y 6525814. Moltke Torpedo loading mast

(SS003) X: 489257; Y 6525830. Linear feature aligned W-E.

(SS004) x: 489246; Y 6525852. Collection of linear anthropogenic features aligned predominately N-S. (SS005) X: 489228; Y 6525871. Miscellaneous collection of anthropogenic features extending from SW to NE.

(SS006) X: 489203; Y 6525896. Possible mast portion

(SS007) X: 489170; Y 6525945. Miscellaneous anthropogenic feature.

(SS008) X: 489159; Y 6525871. Linear feature aligned SW-NE with linear elements leading off of it.

(SS009) X: 489138; Y 6525901. Linear feature aligned SW-NE with broader elements at various stages along its length, increasing in width to NE.

(SS010) X: 489214; Y 6525913. Miscellaneous collection of anthropogenic features

(SS011) X: 489327; Y 6525918. Possible anchor

(SS013) X: 489371; Y 6525821. Miscellaneous features

(SS014) X: 489362; Y 6525975. Possible mast fitting

(SS015) X: 489403; Y 6526016. Miscellaneous collection of anthropogenic features

(SS016) X: 489362; Y 6526001. Linear feature aligned NW-SE

(SS017) X: 489382; Y 6526020. Sub rectangular feature aligned N-S

(SS018) X: 489409; Y 6525923. Linear item, aligned NW-SE

(SS020) X: 489563; Y 6525905. Possible mast element

(SS021) X: 489472; Y 6525981. Torpedo mast

(SS022) X: 489490; Y 6526010. Feature made up of cylindrical items

(SS049) X: 489582; Y 6526299. Superstructure elements and platforms

Information from ORCA Marine, University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute and SULA Diving April 2017

Multi Beam Sonar Scan (January 2017)

Multibeam sonar survey of the salvage site of Sms Moltke revealed that it was clear of large pieces of wreckage although some smaller pieces of wreck could be discerned.

I.McCartney 2019

Remote Operated Vehicle Survey (29 July 2017)

Anomalies from sidescan sonar surveys gathered during the phase 1 salvage sites project at the original Moltke scuttling site were inspected by Remote Operated Vehicle. The following features were identified as connected with the salvage of Moltke by Messrs Cox and Danks in June 1927.

SS001 – diesel engine from a pinnace

SS002 – a lattice type crane or boom

SS010 – a spotting top with short mast section

The ROV also recorded several other miscellaneous items including what appeared to be sections of armour plate which had not been detected during Phase 1.

Information from ORCA Marine, University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute and SULA Diving January 2019

Diver Inspection (April 2018 - 3 October 2018)

Remote video and diver surveys inspected sidescan anomalies gathered during the phase 1 salvage sites project. The remains were associated with the salvage of Sms Moltke. The following identifications were made.

SS021 - a second lattice crane/boom 7m in length interpreted as a torpedo mast used to lower torpedoes to the torpedo rooms below deck; miscellaneous wreckage and several small Danforth-type anchors which appeared to be between 1.5 and 2m in length.

SS014 - a samson post from a Moltke-class vessel, with clear evidence of blasting on the lower end of the post.

SS003 – a gangway of timber construction with brass & steel fittings

SS010 – a foremast with a partially degraded upper spotting top. Electrical wiring inside probably supplied lights and communications to the spotting top. The lower crow’s nest was fully degraded.

SS049 - a searchlight platform with remains of controls present, likely from Moltke when it was beached off Cava before being taken to Lyness.

Divers also inspected the armour plate identified by ROV during the Shiptime project. This was interpreted as originating from the forward right armour on one of the ship’s main turrets. There were numerous small items of wreckage in the vicinity, including coal winches, searchlight fragments and a coal hatch.

Information from ORCA Marine, University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute and SULA Diving January 2019

References

MyCanmore Image Contributions


Contribute an Image

MyCanmore Text Contributions