Fs Maille Breze: Tail Of The Bank, Upper Firth Of Clyde

Horizontal Datum = UND

Circumstances of Loss Details

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Whilst the torpedo tubes of the MAILLE BREZE were trained fore and aft, they were accidentally fired hitting the bridge which set the fuel on fire. Attempts to put out the fire failed and the vessel blew up and sank with the loss of 28 ratings.

Source: Dictionary of Disasters at Sea.

Hydrographic Office 1995.

(Classified as destroyer: date of loss cited as 30 April 1940). Maille Breze: explosion whilst loading torpedoes, sank at quay. All gone 1954, and broken up.

Registration: French. Built 1931. 2441nrt. Length: 128m. Beam,: 12m.

(Location of loss cited as N55 57.80 W4 44.87).

I G Whittaker 1998.

(The loss of this vessel is illustrated, but not described. The published photograph shows the vessel as having sunk upright in relatively ashallow water away from any quay, her upperworks remaining visible).

R Larn and B Larn 1998.

The location assigned to this record remains unverified and the significance of the statement by Whittaker that the incident occurred while the vessel was alongside remains unclear. The location cited may record the final disposal of the wreck remains.

The UKHO chart (no. 1994, published 1974, revised 1994) does not indicate this wreck at the cited location, which falls about 0.58nm NE of the Clydeport Ocean Terminal (NS27NE 56), Greenock, in a charted depth of about 11m, and to the N of Tail of the Bank. The seabed slopes gradually towards the W; no seabed type is recorded nearby. The cited location lies close to moooring buoy D41, which indicates that there is no protruding obstruction.

The UKHO chart (no. 1994, published 1974, revised 1994) notes Tail of the Bank to the E of the outer end of the defined channel of the River Clyde. The name is centred at N55 57.4 W4 45.1 [NS 282 771].

Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 6 December 2004.

Whittaker ID : 1953

Name : MAILLE BREZE

Latitude : 555748

Longitude : 44452

Date Built : 1931

Registration : FRENCH

Type : DESTROYER

Tonnage : 2441

Tonnage Code : N

Length : 128

Beam : 12

Draught : 5m

Loss Day : 30

Loss Month : 4

Loss Year : 1940

Comment : Explosion whilst loading torpedoes, sank at quay. AG 1954 and BU.

UKHO Identifier : 004125

Feature Class : Wreck

Wreck Category : Wreck showing any portion of hull or superstructure

State : DEAD

Classification : Unclassified

Position (Lat/long) : 55.96333,-4.74778

Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)

WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 55.96325,-4.74898

WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)

Previous Position : 55.96333,-4.74778

Position Quality : Precisely known

Depth Quality : Depth unknown

Water Depth : 11

Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide

Name : MAILLE BREZE

Type : DESTROYER

Flag : FRENCH

Length : 129.2

Beam : 11.9

Draught : 4.9

Tonnage : 2441

Tonnage Type : Net

Date Sunk : 30/04/1940

Bottom Texture : Mud

Contact Description : Entire wreck

Original Sensor : Reported Sinking

Original Detection Year : 1940

Original Source : Other

Circumstances of Loss : **BUILT IN 1931 BY PENHOET, ST NAZAIRE. OWNED AT TIME OF LOSS BY FRENCH NAVY. PENHOET BOILERS, TURBINE ENGINES OF 640000 SHP. TORPEDO TUBES WERE ACCIDENTALLY FIRED WHILE TRAINED FORE AND AFT. FUEL SET ON FIRE. ATTEMPTS TO PUT THE FIRE OUT FAILED. BLEW UP AND SANK. 28 RATINGS LOST. (DODS).

Surveying Details : **H0428/40 22.5.40 STF IN 555748N, 044452W. MARKED BY G SPHERICAL LT BUOY, FL G 9SEC. (HMS FURIOUS & FOIC GREENOCK). - FNM 1233/44.

**H0428/40 7.10.54 DELETE FROM ALL CHARTS. (BDO CLYDE SIGNAL). - NM 2190/54.

**HH090/778/01 12.11.97 NOT LOCATED BY DCS3. (HMSML GLEANER, HI 778). NCA.

Chart Symbol : STF

Date Last Amended : 10/12/2009

Date Position Last Amended : 10/12/2009

The Maille Breze is recorded as having been built in 1931 by Penhoet, St Nazaire (Moir and Crawford 2004: 38).

Information from Sally Evans (Cotswold Archaeology), 27/11/2014.

The maritime archaeology of the Clyde has been identified as a focus for a major study of human interaction with the river through time by the RCAHMS following on from recommendations by the Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (ScARF). Source to

Sea has been developed as the long-term research programme, of which the research into human connections with the River Clyde forms part. This project has comprised a study of the surviving shipwreck heritage of Clyde-built vessels lost within the Clyde estuary and Firth of Clyde.

This project has collated information from a range of sources and has enhanced knowledge of Clyde-built wrecks within the Clyde. In particular information from recreational divers has proved invaluable and has been the source of detailed information about the current condition of many Clyde-built wrecks, useful for on-going management. A number of wrecks previously recorded as of unknown identity in the RCAHMS database were positively identified during the project and more accurate positional information was established for a number of other wrecks. Additionally, the project identified a potentially significant wreck (Margaret Niven) the remains of which were not previously recorded. This project has also identified a number of other potentially significant wrecks within the Clyde, which reflect both its unique contributions to world-wide shipbuilding and local connections. These wrecks include paddle steamers (Lapwing and Princess of Wales), Clyde Puffers (e.g. Margaret Niven), steam-yachts with military connections (HMS Breda), a dredger (Greenock) and an 18th-century West Indiaman (Lady Margaret). Numerous other wrecks have been identified by this project, and all display some degree of significance.

Information from Sally Evans (Cotswold Archaeology) April 2015