HMS Nessus
M Class Destroyer (HMS Marmion)
HMS Nessus . 08/09/1918
M Class Destroyer.
Displacement: 994 grt.
Length: 82 m. Beam: 8.4 m. Draught: 2.7 m.
Propulsion: Steam turbines, Yarrow boilers, 3 shafts
Complement: officers and men.
Crew Lost: 0
Armament: 3 x 4"/101.6 mm gun, 3 x 2 pdr. A.A, 2 x twin 21"/530 mm T.T
HMS Nessus was built at Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd., Wallsend in 1915.
Information on loss of HMS Nessus taken from ADM 156/174.
M Class Destroyer.
Displacement: 994 grt.
Length: 82 m. Beam: 8.4 m. Draught: 2.7 m.
Propulsion: Steam turbines, Yarrow boilers, 3 shafts
Complement: officers and men.
Crew Lost: 0
Armament: 3 x 4"/101.6 mm gun, 3 x 2 pdr. A.A, 2 x twin 21"/530 mm T.T
HMS Nessus was built at Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd., Wallsend in 1915.
Information on loss of HMS Nessus taken from ADM 156/174.
HMS Amphitrite
At 14.30 on 7th September HMS Amphitrite completed mine laying operations, adding mines to the Northern Barrage, and proceeded back to Scapa Flow. Two destroyers were the escort, HMS Nessus of the starboard bow & HMS Maenad of the port bow, distance about 5 cables (926.5m)
At 14.45 the vessels ran into a fog bank and the destroyers closed in to 2.5 cables (463.2).
At 15.01 HMS Nessus of the starboard bow turned to port, apparently with the intention of passing ahead of HMS Amphitrite but a collision occurred with HMS Nessus being holed in the engine room. The position was 58 52N 00 20W.
HMS Maenad took HMS Nessus under tow and tugs were requested.
At 16.15 HMS Amphitrite proceeded alone to Scapa Flow.
Every attempt was made on HMS Nessus to stem the flow of water and 45 minutes after the collision the steam pipe was repaired, and the vessels pumps were able to be used.
At 19.00 a message was received from Senior Officer Orkney informing the destroyers of imminent bad weather.
At 21.00 the weather increased and both destroyers ‘’hove-to’’.
By midnight the weather worsened and water level in HMS Nessus increased.
At 04.00 on 8th September the tug Labour arrived with HMS Paladin. The tug got a line onto HMS Nessus but was not capable of doing much due to the steadily increasing weather with a SSE wind force 6-7.
At 08.50 the pumped stopped working due to lack of steam. The water level began to rise and the ship began to settle rapidly. It was decided to abandon ship and HMS Paladin went alongside at took off all the officers and men.
At 10.25 HMS Nessus sank in position 58 33 N 2 12 ¾ W. (The wreck was located 10 miles from this location)
At 14.45 the vessels ran into a fog bank and the destroyers closed in to 2.5 cables (463.2).
At 15.01 HMS Nessus of the starboard bow turned to port, apparently with the intention of passing ahead of HMS Amphitrite but a collision occurred with HMS Nessus being holed in the engine room. The position was 58 52N 00 20W.
HMS Maenad took HMS Nessus under tow and tugs were requested.
At 16.15 HMS Amphitrite proceeded alone to Scapa Flow.
Every attempt was made on HMS Nessus to stem the flow of water and 45 minutes after the collision the steam pipe was repaired, and the vessels pumps were able to be used.
At 19.00 a message was received from Senior Officer Orkney informing the destroyers of imminent bad weather.
At 21.00 the weather increased and both destroyers ‘’hove-to’’.
By midnight the weather worsened and water level in HMS Nessus increased.
At 04.00 on 8th September the tug Labour arrived with HMS Paladin. The tug got a line onto HMS Nessus but was not capable of doing much due to the steadily increasing weather with a SSE wind force 6-7.
At 08.50 the pumped stopped working due to lack of steam. The water level began to rise and the ship began to settle rapidly. It was decided to abandon ship and HMS Paladin went alongside at took off all the officers and men.
At 10.25 HMS Nessus sank in position 58 33 N 2 12 ¾ W. (The wreck was located 10 miles from this location)
The Wreck.
HMS Nessus has Wreck Card 1217.
In 1918 the wreck was plotted as WK (Old Symbol).
In 1926 this was changed to NDW (1918) (NDW = Non Dangerous Wreck).
In 1960 this was amended to NDW PA (Position Approximate).
The wreck of HMS Nessus was located by Netsurvey in 2007 in position 58°37,026'N 02°31,217'W and was dived in 2008, by a dive team led by Leigh Grubb, off the MV Jean Elaine.
HMS Nessus has Wreck Card 1217.
In 1918 the wreck was plotted as WK (Old Symbol).
In 1926 this was changed to NDW (1918) (NDW = Non Dangerous Wreck).
In 1960 this was amended to NDW PA (Position Approximate).
The wreck of HMS Nessus was located by Netsurvey in 2007 in position 58°37,026'N 02°31,217'W and was dived in 2008, by a dive team led by Leigh Grubb, off the MV Jean Elaine.
HMS Nessus MBES (MCA/UKHO)
Photographs courtesy of Chris Simons