Moncousou: Badh Rock, Sound Of Gigha
Steamship (20th Century), Target Craft (20th Century)
Site Name Moncousou: Badh Rock, Sound Of Gigha
Classification Steamship (20th Century), Target Craft (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Nestor; Mon Cousu; Sound Of Jura; Moncousu; Moncousu (Ex. Nestor)
Canmore ID 102684
Site Number NR65SE 8001
NGR NR 69886 52425
Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/102684
- Council Argyll And Bute
- Parish Maritime - Argyll And Bute
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
NR65SE 8001 6988 5242
N55 42.6333 W5 39.8167
NLO: Isle of Gigha [name centred NR 642 492]
Sound of Gigha [name centred NR 67 49]
Sound of Jura [name centred NR 64 78]
Jura [name centred NR 54 82].
Formerly entered as NR65SE 9316.
Quality of fix = HSA
Evidence = Swept by Wire(Two Ship/Boat Drift/Drag Sweep)
Horizontal Datum = OGB
General water depth = 8
Orientation of keel/wreck = NS
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The steamship MONCOUSU was used as an ammunition storage ship. It was damaged during a German air attack on 29 April 1941 and sank the next day. It was refloated and towed to the Sound of Gigha for use as a bombing target. It was sunk on 5 January 1942.
Sources: Lloyds War Losses, Britain's Sea War.
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
31 August 1945. A stranded wreck was reported at 55 42 20N, 005 40 08W, approximately by the Admiralty.
24 April 1957. The wreck is no longer visible.
Report by HM Trawler IRIS.
2 December 1959. The wreck was located at 55 42 38N, 005 39 49W. It was swept by a 2 boat drift sweep. The wreck cleared at 4.8 metres but fouled at 6 metres. The least echosounder depth was 5.5 metres in a general depth of 7.9 metres. A scour was observed to 3.6 metres deep. The seabed is sand. The wreck lies with its keel on an orientation of 000/180 degrees.
Report by HMS SHACKLETON, 20 October 1959.
6 May 1969. Reported as no longer used as a bombing target.
Hydrographic Office, 1995.
(Classified as steel steamship: no cargo specified, but former name cited as Nestor, and date of loss as 5 January 1944). Moncousu: this vessel sank after being used as a bombing target.
Registration: British. Built 1912. 1420grt. Length: 72m. Beam: 11m.
(Location of loss cited as N55 42.63 W5 39.82).
The location cited by UKHO is accepted. Badh Rock is not indicated on the 1998 edition of the OS 1:50,000 map.
No detailed description of the remains of this wreck is apparently available.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 8 May 2002.
Loss (5 January 1944)
(Classified as steel steamship: no cargo specified, but former name cited as Nestor, and date of loss as 5 January 1944). Moncousu: this vessel sank after being used as a bombing target.
Registration: British. Built 1912. 1420grt. Length: 72m. Beam: 11m.
(Location of loss cited as N55 42.63 W5 39.82).
Evidence Of Loss (1995)
Quality of fix = HSA
Evidence = Swept by Wire(Two Ship/Boat Drift/Drag Sweep)
Horizontal Datum = OGB
General water depth = 8
Orientation of keel/wreck = NS
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The steamship MONCOUSU was used as an ammunition storage ship. It was damaged during a German air attack on 29 April 1941 and sank the next day. It was refloated and towed to the Sound of Gigha for use as a bombing target. It was sunk on 5 January 1942.
Sources: Lloyds War Losses, Britain's Sea War.
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
31 August 1945. A stranded wreck was reported at 55 42 20N, 005 40 08W, approximately by the Admiralty.
24 April 1957. The wreck is no longer visible.
Report by HM Trawler IRIS.
2 December 1959. The wreck was located at 55 42 38N, 005 39 49W. It was swept by a 2 boat drift sweep. The wreck cleared at 4.8 metres but fouled at 6 metres. The least echosounder depth was 5.5 metres in a general depth of 7.9 metres. A scour was observed to 3.6 metres deep. The seabed is sand. The wreck lies with its keel on an orientation of 000/180 degrees.
Report by HMS SHACKLETON, 20 October 1959.
6 May 1969. Reported as no longer used as a bombing target.
Hydrographic Office, 1995.
Note (8 May 2002)
The location cited by UKHO is accepted. Badh Rock is not indicated on the 1998 edition of the OS 1:50,000 map.
No detailed description of the remains of this wreck is apparently available.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 8 May 2002.
Reference (2011)
Whittaker ID : 622
Name : MONCOUSU (EX. NESTOR)
Latitude : 554238
Longitude : 53949
Date Built : 1912
Registration : BRITISH
Type : SS (STEEL)
Tonnage : 1420
Tonnage Code : G
Length : 72
Beam : 11
Draught : 5m
Position : Exact Position
Loss Day : 5
Loss Month : 1
Loss Year : 1944
Comment : Sank after being used as a bombing target.
Reference (19 April 2012)
UKHO Identifier : 003942
Feature Class : Wreck
Wreck Category : Dangerous wreck
State : LIVE
Classification : Unclassified
Position (Lat/long) : 55.71048,-5.66467
Horizontal Datum : ETRS 1989
WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 55.71048,-5.66467
WGS84 Origin : Block Shift
Previous Position : 55.71055,-5.66362
Position Method : Horizontal sextant angle
Position Quality : Surveyed
Depth : 4.6
Depth Method : Swept by wire-drag
Depth Quality : Least depth known
Water Depth : 8
Water Level Effect : Always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum : Mean Low Water Springs
Name : MONCOUSU
Type : SS
Flag : BRITISH
Length : 71.6
Beam : 11.0
Draught : 5.0
Orientation : 0.0
Tonnage : 1420
Tonnage Type : Gross
Date Sunk : 05/01/1944
Bottom Texture : Sand
Scour Depth : 3.7
Contact Description : Entire wreck
Original Sensor : Video Sensor
Last Sensor : Physical Snag
Original Detection Year : 1945
Last Detection Year : 1959
Original Source : Naval Vessel
Last Source : Survey Vessel
