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HMS Pathfinder

HMS Pathfinder. Centenary Dive. Jane Maddocks BSAC NDC Nautical Archaeology Adviser Dave lock BSAC NDC Diver Training Lead. Team. Mark Callaghan Jason Hall Sophie Heptonstall Sarah Jepson Dave lock Jane Maddocks Andy Proctor Mike Rowley Maggie Surrage Dave Wakelam.

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HMS Pathfinder

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  1. HMS Pathfinder

  2. Centenary Dive • Jane Maddocks • BSAC NDC Nautical Archaeology Adviser • Dave lock • BSAC NDC Diver Training Lead

  3. Team • Mark Callaghan • Jason Hall • Sophie Heptonstall • Sarah Jepson • Dave lock • Jane Maddocks • Andy Proctor • Mike Rowley • Maggie Surrage • Dave Wakelam

  4. HMS Pathfinder • Sentinel Class Scout Light Cruiser • Designed to be eyes and ears of fleet • One of four pairs built to general specification • Sister ship HMS Patrol • Built by Camel Laird, Birkenhead • Laid down August 1903 • Launched July 1904 • Commissioned July 1905 • Cost £297,000

  5. Specifications • 2900 Tons displacement • 379 ft x 38.6 ft x 13 ft • Armour plate • Deck = 1.5” – 5/8” • Hull belt = 2” • Conning tower = 3” • 2 x 4 cyl triple expansion engines • Normand-Laird boilers • 16,500 i.h.p. 25 knots • 14330 i.h.p. 25.22 Knots (Trials) • Coal capacity = 160 tons – 410 tons • Crew complement = 268

  6. Armament • 9 x 4” guns • 6 x 6 pdr guns • 2 x 18” Torpedo tubes

  7. Achilles Heel • Period of evolving technology • Need for speed • Destroyer Flotilla Leader • Triple expansion engines devour coal • Limited bunker capacity • 160 – 410 tons • Very limited range

  8. Service Record • Atlantic Fleet • Channel Fleet 1906 • Home Fleet 1907 • Beginning of WW1 • Leader of 8th Destroyer Flotilla • Based Rosyth, Firth of Forth • Home port of Beatty’s “Cats” • Capt. Francis Martin-Peake

  9. 5th September 1914 • Routine patrol off Isle of May • Leading 8th Destroyer Flotilla • Destroyers altered course towards Isle of May~ midday • Pathfinder continued on SSE course • At 5 knots due to lack of coal

  10. Carl Hans Lody • 25th August 1914 • Staying in area • Takes bus to Firth of Forth every morning • 30th August 1914 • Letter to Germany • “4 ships in repair dock” • “Other ships heading to sea” • SM U-21 ordered to target area • 6th November 1914 • Shot as spy in Tower of London

  11. SM U-21 • Type U-19 Class • Built Kaiserliche Werf, Danzig. • Laid down 1910 • Launched 8th Feb. 1913 • Commissioned 22nd Oct. 1913 • KapitanLeutnant Otto Hersing

  12. SM U-21 • 64.1 m x 6.1 m x 3.58 m • 2 x MAN 8 cyl. diesels • 1st U Boats with diesels • 2 x AEG Double Motordynamos • 15.4 knots surfaced • 9.5 knots submerged • 4 x 50 cm Torpedo Tubes • 1 x 88 mm SK L/30 gun • 4 Officers + 25 Crew

  13. 4th September 1914 • SM U-21 penetrated Firth of Forth • As far as Forth Bridge • Fired on by Carlingnose shore battery • Retired back to sea

  14. 5th September 1914 • SM U-21 On surface charging batteries • Lookout spots smoke on horizon • Identifies slow moving warship • Submerged for attack • Warship turns away • Surface to recharge • Warship reverses course • Submerged for attack • 1543 hrs fired 1 torpedo from 2000 yards

  15. HMS Pathfinder • Torpedo spotted ~ 1545 hrs • Lt-Cdr Favell - evasive action • Torpedo struck forward of bridge • Explosion triggers second massive explosion in forward magazine • Bow section blown off from bridge forward • Sinks in 4 minutes

  16. Aftermath • Pathfinder becomes the 1st ship to be sunk by submarine launched motorised torpedo • Explosion heard and seen ashore • Fishing boats, Destroyers and Lifeboat raced to scene • 18 survivors • (Including Capt. Martin-Leake) • 4 subsequently died

  17. Aldous Huxley wrote: • From Northfield House, St. Abbs • “We actually saw the Pathfinder explosion – great white cloud with its foot in the sea. The St. Abbs’ lifeboat came in with the most appalling accounts of the scene. There was not a piece of wood big enough to float a man and over acres the sea was covered with fragments – human and otherwise.”

  18. News Management • Official Admiralty Position • “Submarines lack ability to sink surface warships with a torpedo” • First official statement • “Struck mine” • Scotsman Newspaper • Eye witness accounts by fishermen • Admiralty Intelligence • Claimed U-Boat cornered and sunk by cruisers

  19. Reality • 22 Sept 1914 SM U-9 sank • HMS Aboukir • HMS Hogue • HMS Cressy

  20. SM U-21 & Otto Hersing • May 1915 Sank • HMS Majestic • HMS Triumph • February 1916 Sank • Admiral Charner • 36 Allied ships • Sank 1919 in North Sea • On tow for interment

  21. Diving HMS Pathfinder • www.marinequest.co.uk • ~ 12 Miles N of Eyemouth • Upright & complete • From bridge to stern • Max. depth 68 m • Min. depth 57 m • Bow ~ 1 Mile North

  22. Diving HMS Pathfinder • Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 • No entry • No interference • No removal of artefacts John Liddiard John Liddiard John Liddiard

  23. Diving HMS Pathfinder • Appropriate diving platform • Individual self sufficienct within team • Thermal & Urination issues • Matched to preference & experience • Team diving • Common gases • 10/50 diluent • 20/30 Deep Bailout • 80% Shallow Bailout • Emergency gas • 20/30 @ 55 m • 80% @ 10 m • Drop tanks in boat • All return to shot line for ascent • Diver to boat signal protocol

  24. Diving HMS Pathfinder • Emergency manager/s • Emergency gas deployment • Drop tanks • In-water safety divers • Casualty evacuation procedure • Recompression facilities • In-water recompression? • Therapeutic Oxygen • Therapeutic Oxygen trained people • First Aid • Understanding of potential diving ailments

  25. Diving HMS Pathfinder 80% @ 10m Piston clip & Prussic loop Missing divers procedure Tokens 20/30 @ 55m Strobe 58m 61m 68m

  26. MOD Permission

  27. Wreath & Flag

  28. Relatives • Malcolm Stern • Nephew of William Stern • RN K/5331 • 1st Class Stoker • 1st Jewish casualty of WW1

  29. Relatives • John Magee • Grandson of Richard Magee • Master at Arms • RN 164813 ch

  30. Relatives

  31. Thank you Mike Rowley

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