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Gretafield [fore Part]: Dunbeath Bay, North Sea
Tanker (20th Century)
Site Name Gretafield [fore Part]: Dunbeath Bay, North Sea
Classification Tanker (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Dunbeath Pier; East Mole Head
Canmore ID 103012
Site Number ND12NE 8001
NGR ND 1651 2895
Datum Datum not recorded
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/103012
- Council Highland
- Parish Maritime - Highland
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
ND12NE 8001 1651 2895
N58 14.5 W3 25.33
NLO: Dunbeath [name: ND 161 296]
Dunbeath Bay [name centred ND 164 291]
Lybster [name: ND 248 355].
See also ND12NE 8002.
Formerly entered as ND12NE 8588.
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
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The tanker GRETAFIELD was torpedoed. She caught fire and was beached near Dunbeath. For details see the 'after part' of wreck in the same position.
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
The fore part of the wreck is reported at a position bearing 208 degrees and 370 metres from East Mole Head. See the 'after part' of the wreck in the same position.
20 July 1977. The wreck's position is given as bearing 185 degrees and 518 metres from Dunbeath pier. It 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 Pier' is presumably to be equated with Dunbeath (Portormin) Harbour (ND12NE 6.00) which is centred at ND 16604 29368. The location of 'East 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
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The tanker GRETAFIELD was torpedoed. She caught fire and was beached near Dunbeath. For details see the 'after part' of wreck in the same position.
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
The fore part of the wreck is reported at a position bearing 208 degrees and 370 metres from East Mole Head. See the 'after part' of the wreck in the same position.
20 July 1977. The wreck's position is given as bearing 185 degrees and 518 metres from Dunbeath pier. It 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 Pier' is presumably to be equated with Dunbeath (Portormin) Harbour (ND12NE 6.00) which is centred at ND 16604 29368. The location of 'East 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.
Note (16 November 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.
