U-18 [probably]: Pentland Firth
Submarine (First World War)
Site Name U-18 [probably]: Pentland Firth
Classification Submarine (First World War)
Alternative Name(s) U18; Scapa Flow; Muckle Skerry; Pentland Skerries; North Sea; U 18 (Probably); U-18
Canmore ID 102342
Site Number ND57NW 8002
NGR ND 53663 79654
Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/102342
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Maritime - Orkney
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
ND47NE 8003 4833 7972
N58 42.15 W2 48
NLO: Pentland Firth [name centred ND 35 81]
Muckle Skerry [name centred ND 465 783]
Pentland Skerries [name centred ND 470 775]
Scapa Flow [name centred HY 36 00].
Suggested location 'in the vicinity of Scapa Flow'.
G Ridley 1992.
Quality of fix = EDM
Evidence = Vertical Scan
Horizontal Datum = OGB
General water depth = 70
Orientation of keel/wreck = 160/340
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The German submarine U18 was rammed by the trawler DOROTHY GRAY. The vessel surrendered and was scuttled.
Report by Naval Historical Branch.
Source: Warships of World War I [photo]
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
The wreck's postion is given as 58 41 00N, 002 55 00W.
Report by Naval Historical Branch
14 January 1985. The vessel was found at 58 42 09N, 002 48 00W at its position fixed using 3-range trisponder. The site was located on 9 September 1984, but it was not closely examined. It lies in a trough between two sandwaves of a greater height. The side scan sonar indicated a height of 4.5 metres in a general depth of 70 metres. The length is 60 metres, and width 6 metres. The wreck is lying with its keel on an orientation of 160/340 degrees.
Report by BUE Subsea.
Hydrographic Office, 1995.
(Classified as submarine: date of loss cited as 23 November 1914). U-18: this vessel was rammed and sunk by 'Dorothy Gray' and 'Garry' after grounding on Pentland Skerry [Skerries].
Registration: German. 691 tons displacement. Length: 61m. Beam: 6m.
(Location of loss cited as N58 42.15 W2 48.0).
I G Whittaker 1998.
Length: 204ft 6ins (62.3m)
Beam: 20ft (6.1m)
Displacement: 564/691 tons
Propulsion: heavy oil [rather than diesel] engines; two propellers; 1400/1120 hp; 15/9.5 kts
Armament: 4 x 19.7in (500mm) torpedo tubes (2 bow, 2 stern); 1 or nil 2in (51mm) guns according to variations within class. Calibre of torpedo tubes also cited as 17.7ins (450mm)
Complement: 28
This submarine was the second and last unit of the U-17 class, and was built at Danzig Dockyard in 1912 as one of the last German submarines fitted with heavy oil engines. She was rammed by a trawler off Scapa Flow in 1914.
H M Le Fleming 1961; [Jane] 2001.
Reference (2011)
Whittaker ID : 308
Name : U-18
Latitude : 584209
Longitude : 24800
Registration : GERMAN
Type : SUBMARINE
Tonnage : 691
Tonnage Code : D
Length : 61
Beam : 6
Draught : 5m
Position : Position Approximate
Loss Day : 23
Loss Month : 11
Loss Year : 1914
Comment : Rammed and sunk by 'DOROTHY GRAY' and 'GARRY' after grounding on Pentland Skerry
Reference (19 April 2012)
UKHO Identifier : 001226
Feature Class : Wreck
Wreck Category : Non-dangerous wreck
State : LIVE
Classification : Unclassified
Position (Lat/long) : 58.70215,-2.80135
Horizontal Datum : ETRS 1989
WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 58.70215,-2.80135
WGS84 Origin : Original
Previous Position : 58.70250,-2.80000
Position Method : Differential Global Positioning System
Position Quality : Surveyed
Position Accuracy : 3.0
Depth : 64.0
Depth Method : Found by multi-beam
Depth Quality : Least depth known
Water Depth : 69
Water Level Effect : Always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name : U 18 (PROBABLY)
Type : SUBMARINE
Flag : GERMAN
Length : 62.2
Beam : 6.1
Sonar Length : 54.0
Sonar Width : 4.0
Shadow Height : 6.0
Orientation : 163.0
Tonnage : 691
Tonnage Type : Displacement
Date Sunk : 23/11/1914
Bottom Texture : Sand
Sonar Signal Strength : Strong
Scour Depth : 2.3
Scour Length : 2.0
Scour Orientation : 270.0
Debris Field : NIL
Reference (March 2012)
Sitename : U-18 [Probably]: pentland Firth
Sources :
SeaZone Hydrospatial OSGB36 Wrecks point,SeaZone,2010
UKHO wreck report,2012,1226
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