By The Nexus Gazette.
August 16, 2024
In an extraordinary maritime discovery, the wreck of HMS Hawke, a Royal Navy warship lost during World War One, has been found in astonishing condition off the coast of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The warship, which sank in October 1914 after being struck by a German U-boat torpedo, took the lives of over 500 crew members in a tragic event that unfolded in less than eight minutes.
HMS Hawke, an Edgar-class protected cruiser, was discovered approximately 70 miles east of Fraserburgh by the dedicated team from the Lost in Waters Deep group, a nonprofit organization focused on locating wartime shipwrecks in Scottish waters. Despite having been submerged for more than a century, the wreck is remarkably well-preserved, with features such as teak decking, naval guns, and Royal Navy crockery still visible.
Measuring 387 feet (118 meters) in length and 60 feet (18 meters) in width, HMS Hawke had a distinguished service history. Notably, in 1911, the warship was involved in a collision with RMS Olympic, the sister ship of the Titanic, in the Solent, causing significant damage. With the outbreak of World War One, HMS Hawke was assigned to the 10th Cruiser Squadron, where it carried out blockade duties between Shetland and Norway, before being redeployed to protect troop convoys in the North Sea.
The dive team, operating from the vessel Clasina, meticulously researched and cross-referenced historical records to determine the wreck’s location. Key clues were derived from the day journal of the German U-boat commander responsible for firing the torpedo, as well as naval logs from other Royal Navy cruisers that had recently interacted with HMS Hawke. Additionally, reports of an “obstruction” from Scottish fisheries in the 1980s pointed the team to the general vicinity.
During the dive, the team was able to explore various parts of the ship, uncovering significant artifacts that paint a vivid picture of the ship’s final moments. The wreck, now resting 360 feet (110 meters) below the surface, serves as the final resting place for the 524 sailors who lost their lives that day. The Royal Navy is expected to formally identify the wreck in the coming weeks.
This discovery is not only a somber reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by the Royal Navy during the early stages of the war but also a remarkable find that preserves a significant piece of naval history. The condition of HMS Hawke offers valuable insights into naval engineering of the time and serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made during World War One.
Resources:
1.https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/crkmx40zzzxo
2.https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9qg4z1149eo