Arizona: Elie Ness, Firth Of Forth
Craft (20th Century), Motor Vessel (20th Century)
Site Name Arizona: Elie Ness, Firth Of Forth
Classification Craft (20th Century), Motor Vessel (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Kincraig Point; Elie Ness Light; Outer Forth Estuary; Arizona
Canmore ID 96704
Site Number NT49NE 8003
NGR NT 45796 97879
Datum WGS84 - Lat/Long
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/96704
- Council Fife
- Parish Maritime - Fife
- Former Region Fife
- Former District Maritime
- Former County Not Applicable
NT49NE 8003 4579 9788
N56 10.2333 W2 52.3833
NLO: Elie [name: NT 493 997]
Elie Ness [name: NT 496 993]
Kincraig [name: NO 464 005]
Kincraig Point [Name: NT 466 997].
Formerly entered as NT49NE 8173.
Quality of fix = HSA
Evidence = Swept by Wire (Single Ship/Boat Drift Sweep)
Horizontal Datum = OGB
General water depth = 18
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The vessel was mined while en route from Methil to Holland.
Sources: World War II Shipping Loses, Dictionary of Disasters at Sea.
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
24 October 1940. The vessel's position is given as 56 10 00N, 002 53 00W, bearing 252 degrees, 2.4 miles from Elieness Light.
1 April 1941. The site was swept, the wire clearing at 7.3 metres and foul at 9.1 metres.
Report by HMS FRANKLIN.
28 July 1960. The site was located at 56 10 14N, 002 52 23W and swept. The wire clearing wreckage at 11.5 metres but fouling at 12.4 metrest. The least clear water depth given by the echosounder was 12.1 metres in a general water depth of 17.9 metres. A scout pit a metre deep was also observed.
Report by HMS SCOTT 4 September 1959.
22 December 1969. An application to purchase the wreck was received from D Newlands. Report by Ministry of Transport [war risks].
13 June 1984. The site was visually inspected by divers in May 1984. The wreck is well dispersed with the highest parts standing 4 to 5 metres high.
Hydrographic Office 1995.
(Classified as M[otor] V[essel], with cargo of coal: date of loss cited as 29 September 1940). Arizona: this vessel was mined 204 degs 1 mile from Kincraig Point, 2 miles S of Elie.
Registration: Dutch. 398grt. Length: 43m. Beam: 8m.
(Location of loss cited as N56 10.23 W2 52.38).
I G Whittaker 1998.
The equation of this wreck with the recorded loss of the Arizona remains unverified, but is accepted.
UKHO chart no. 734 (1993, amended 1995) charts this wreck [Wk], being wire-swept to 11.5m depth in a general depth of about 17m, shelving downwards to the S. No seabed type is indicated nearby.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 19 October 2010.
Loss (29 September 1940)
Quality of fix = HSA
Evidence = Swept by Wire (Single Ship/Boat Drift Sweep)
Horizontal Datum = OGB
General water depth = 18
Circumstances of Loss Details
-----------------------------
The vessel was mined while en route from Methil to Holland.
Sources: World War II Shipping Loses, Dictionary of Disasters at Sea.
Surveying Details
-----------------------------
24 October 1940. The vessel's position is given as 56 10 00N, 002 53 00W, bearing 252 degrees, 2.4 miles from Elieness Light.
1 April 1941. The site was swept, the wire clearing at 7.3 metres and foul at 9.1 metres.
Report by HMS FRANKLIN.
28 July 1960. The site was located at 56 10 14N, 002 52 23W and swept. The wire clearing wreckage at 11.5 metres but fouling at 12.4 metrest. The least clear water depth given by the echosounder was 12.1 metres in a general water depth of 17.9 metres. A scout pit a metre deep was also observed.
Report by HMS SCOTT 4 September 1959.
22 December 1969. An application to purchase the wreck was received from D Newlands. Report by Ministry of Transport [war risks].
13 June 1984. The site was visually inspected by divers in May 1984. The wreck is well dispersed with the highest parts standing 4 to 5 metres high.
Hydrographic Office 1995.
(Classified as M[otor] V[essel], with cargo of coal: date of loss cited as 29 September 1940). Arizona: this vessel was mined 204 degs 1 mile from Kincraig Point, 2 miles S of Elie.
Registration: Dutch. 398grt. Length: 43m. Beam: 8m.
(Location of loss cited as N56 10.23 W2 52.38).
I G Whittaker 1998.
Note (19 October 2010)
The equation of this wreck with the recorded loss of the Arizona remains unverified, but is accepted.
UKHO chart no. 734 (1993, amended 1995) charts this wreck [Wk], being wire-swept to 11.5m depth in a general depth of about 17m, shelving downwards to the S. No seabed type is indicated nearby.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 19 October 2010.
Reference (2011)
Whittaker ID : 277
Name : ARIZONA
Latitude : 561014
Longitude : 25223
Registration : DUTCH
Type : MV
Tonnage : 398
Tonnage Code : G
Length : 43
Beam : 8
Draught : 3m
Position : Exact Position
Loss Day : 29
Loss Month : 9
Loss Year : 1940
Comment : Mined 204 deg 1 mile from Kincraig Point, 2 miles south of Elie.
Cargo : COAL
Reference (19 April 2012)
UKHO Identifier : 002946
Feature Class : Wreck
Wreck Category : Dangerous wreck
State : LIVE
Classification : Unclassified
Position (Lat/long) : 56.17056,-2.87306
Horizontal Datum : ORDNANCE SURVEY OF GREAT BRITAIN (1936)
WGS84 Position (Lat/long) : 56.17047,-2.87453
WGS84 Origin : 3-D Cartesian Shift (BW)
Position Method : Horizontal sextant angle
Position Quality : Precisely known
Depth : 11.5
Depth Method : Swept by wire-drag
Depth Quality : Least depth known
Water Depth : 18
Water Level Effect : Always under water/submerged
Vertical Datum : Lowest Astronomical Tide
Name : ARIZONA
Type : MV
Flag : DUTCH
Length : 43.6
Beam : 7.9
Draught : 2.7
Tonnage : 398
Tonnage Type : Gross
Cargo : COAL
Date Sunk : 29/09/1940
Contact Description : Entire wreck
Original Sensor : Reported Sinking
Last Sensor : Diver Sighting
Original Detection Year : 1940
Last Detection Year : 1984
Original Source : Other
Last Source : Divers
Circumstances of Loss : **BUILT IN 1939. OIL ENGINE, SINGLE SHAFT. PASSAGE METHIL & BLYTH FOR BRIDGEWATER. STRUCK GERMAN LAID MINE. (WW2SL, DODS & SIBI).
Surveying Details : **H0904/40 24.10.40 POSN 561000N, 025300W - 252 DEG, 2.4M FROM ELIENESS LT. - PFNM 2504/40.
**H0904/40 9.12.40 INS AS DW. - NM2489/40.
**H0904/40 1.4.41 EXAM'D IN 561015N, 025218W. OROPESA SWEEP CLEAR AT 24, FOUL AT 30FT. (HMS FRANKLIN). AMEND TO WK 4FMS IN REVISED POSN. - NM 748/81.
**H0904/40 H2518/60 28.7.60 LOCATED IN 561014N, 025223W. DRIFT SWEEP CLEAR AT 38, FOUL AT 41FT. LEAST E/S DEPTH 40 IN GEN DEPTH 59FT. SCOUR 3FT. (HMS SCOTT 4.9.59). AMEND TO WK 6FMS 2FT. - NM 1412/60.
**22.12.69 APPLICATION TO PURCHASE BY D NEWLANDS. (MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT [WAR RISKS]).
**21.8.73 AMEND TO SW 11.5MTRS. NC 734.
**H1310/84/18 13.6.84 DIVED ON MAY 1984. WK WELL DISPERSED WITH HIGHEST PARTS STANDING 4 TO 5MTRS HIGH. (W MURNEY, 28.5.84). NCA
General Comments : WELL BROKEN UP
