HMD South Esk
HMD South Esk. (No 2021) 07/07/1917
Displacement: 93 grt.
Length: 26.1 m. Beam: 5.6 m. Draught: 2.6 m.
Propulsion: Steam, 1 x boiler Triple Expansion Engine.
Complement: 9 officers and men.
Crew Lost: 4
Armament: 1 x 3pdr
South Esk was a steel steam trawler built by J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen in 1912 and was registered in Montrose with the fishing number ME195.
In 1915 South Esk was hired to the Royal Navy, first as a Boom Vessel but then as a minesweeper with pennant number 2021.
On 7th July 1917 HMD South Esk, together with HMD Olive, were conducting minesweeping operations south of Stronsay. At 12.10 in the afternoon HMD South Esk and HMD Olive fouled their sweep between Stronsay and Auskerry. Eyewitnesses from the island of Stronsay said both drifters let go of the sweep which was then hauled in over the bow by South Esk. At 12.35 there was a terrific explosion right below South Esk and the bow was blown away. It is thought that maybe the sweepers had fouled 2 or more mines and these had detonated when they came in contact with each other.
The badly damaged vessel floated for about one and a half minutes before sinking, leaving four crew dead and five survivors. The Skipper of South Esk, Francis Fraser RNR, was thrown through the wheelhouse window by the explosion and was saved, but badly wounded, by the skipper of HMD Olive who jumped overboard to save him.
The mine or mines that sank HMD South Esk were from a line of six laid by UC 33 (Kptlt. Martin Schelle) on the night of 29th June 1917. These mines were laid in a line running north/south between Auskerry and Stronsay.
Displacement: 93 grt.
Length: 26.1 m. Beam: 5.6 m. Draught: 2.6 m.
Propulsion: Steam, 1 x boiler Triple Expansion Engine.
Complement: 9 officers and men.
Crew Lost: 4
Armament: 1 x 3pdr
South Esk was a steel steam trawler built by J. Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co, Aberdeen in 1912 and was registered in Montrose with the fishing number ME195.
In 1915 South Esk was hired to the Royal Navy, first as a Boom Vessel but then as a minesweeper with pennant number 2021.
On 7th July 1917 HMD South Esk, together with HMD Olive, were conducting minesweeping operations south of Stronsay. At 12.10 in the afternoon HMD South Esk and HMD Olive fouled their sweep between Stronsay and Auskerry. Eyewitnesses from the island of Stronsay said both drifters let go of the sweep which was then hauled in over the bow by South Esk. At 12.35 there was a terrific explosion right below South Esk and the bow was blown away. It is thought that maybe the sweepers had fouled 2 or more mines and these had detonated when they came in contact with each other.
The badly damaged vessel floated for about one and a half minutes before sinking, leaving four crew dead and five survivors. The Skipper of South Esk, Francis Fraser RNR, was thrown through the wheelhouse window by the explosion and was saved, but badly wounded, by the skipper of HMD Olive who jumped overboard to save him.
The mine or mines that sank HMD South Esk were from a line of six laid by UC 33 (Kptlt. Martin Schelle) on the night of 29th June 1917. These mines were laid in a line running north/south between Auskerry and Stronsay.
UC-33 KTB
A translation of the logbook (KTB) For UC 33 29/06/1917 shows.............
Closed with a line of 6 mines, 200m apart, between Auskerry Island and Ingle Skerry, laid on course 0 deg, Auskerry Sound (Quadrat 125a 3) blocked.
A translation of the logbook (KTB) For UC 33 29/06/1917 shows.............
Closed with a line of 6 mines, 200m apart, between Auskerry Island and Ingle Skerry, laid on course 0 deg, Auskerry Sound (Quadrat 125a 3) blocked.
U Boat grid chart showing square 125a highlighted.
The Wreck Today.
The wreck of HMD South Esk has not been located but is part of an ongoing project.
