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​HMY Zarefah

Picture
HMY Zarefah.  (No 046)  08/05/1917
​
Displacement: 279 grt.

Length: 39.4  m.    Beam: 6.7 m.   Draught: 3.6 m.

Propulsion: 1 x 3-cyl. triple expansion engine, single shaft, 1 screw, 1 boiler

​Machinery:

Complement:   officers and men.

Armament: ​​2 x 3pdr.
The yacht Zarefah, built as Maretanza V  by George Brown & Co., Greenock in 1905 for Sir John Denison-Pender, . Zarefah was hired by the Royal Navy in 1914 and then purchased in 1916.

​At 6.30 pm  on the evening of the 8th May 1917  HMY Zarefah reported that several mines had been discovered, just showing, off Mull Head, near Kirkwall, Orkney.

​At 7.12 one mine was destroyed by HMY Zarefah despite a warning for the yacht to stay clear.

At 7.15 pm HMY Zarefah then struck a mine and sank with the loss of 16 crew. 
Motor launches approached the area and found that mines that were reported just showing on the surface had now dipped in the tide. 

The next day a seaplane was used to help spot the mines for the motor launches.

 Over the next few days the remaining 7 mines were destroyed or swept by minesweepers. (ADM 116-1517. Bi Monthly Mine-sweeping Reports, 1st to 15th June 1917. (120))

UC-31
​

HMY Zarefah struck a mine that had been laid one and a half hours earlier by UC-31 ( ​​Kptlt.Otto von Schrader). 

The KTB shows that at 7.22 pm (Berlin Time) 08/05/1917 UC-31 started laying the first of 3 mine lines, each consisting of 3 mines. Two lines were laid across the east end of The String and one line laid off Mull Head. 

At 9 14 pm (Berlin Time) A detonation is heard but cannot estimate distance. Propeller noises are then heard passing over the U Boat. 
​
The KTB  then reports that s
ince the boat has not been seen and no tracking of the boat has taken place, it is likely that the results of the mine laying will be successful​. ​
Picture
UC-31 mine lines 8/5/1917. (UKHO)




​The Wreck Today


UKHO wreck card ​1297.

1917 wreck was recorded in position 585920N, 024130W.

1926  inserted on chart NDWPA (1917)  (Non Dangerous Wreck Position Approximate (1917))

​

2002 The wreck of the HMY Zarefah was located by Andy Cuthbertson of the dive vessel MV Jean Elaine in position 
58°59,23'N  02°41,523'W.





Video of HMY Zarefah: HERE        taken by Ivan Houston​.

​
Video of engine and boiler:
​
​ ENGINE & BOILER

  
​Courtesy Scapa Scientific 

Gary Playfoot was one of the first divers on the wreck and kindly allowed us to use his story which can be downloaded here.. 


zarefah_story.pdf
File Size: 115 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Picture

The Crew - (Research ongoing)
​RNR
CUTHBERT, Benjamin, Ty/Sub Lieutenant, RNR
​
​GILBERT, Alfred S, Lieutenant, RNR
​KANE, James F, Ty/Sub Lieutenant, RNR
​MACIVER, Roderick, Seaman, RNR, A 5466
SMITH, Edward H, Signalman, RNVR
​STEPHEN, Alexander P, Ty/Lieutenant, RNR
​WALLACE, Herbert K, Leading Telegraphist, RNVR
​MMR
CARTER, John A, Assistant Steward, MMR
​GILBERT, William, Fireman, MMR
​GREEN, Albert E, Assistant Steward, MMR
​MAIN, Percy, Able Seaman, MMR, 746037
​MIDDLEWICK, William T, 2nd Engineer, MMR
​MUIR, Stanley, Fireman, MMR
​ST LEDGER, John H, Able Seaman, MMR
​TYLER, Peter, Able Seaman, MMR, 602114
​WEITZEL, Herbert E, Cook, MMR
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 All rights reserved. Due to the immense amount of research that enabled us to build this site we would like to point out that all material on this website is owned by Lost In Waters Deep though photos are credited to their respect
ive owners. Anyone wishing to use material for their own website or any other purpose are requested to contact us first expressing their wishes. Permission will usually be granted to none profit making ventures, i.e. websites for educational and/or historical purposes, though a link to this website and acknowledgement to the original owners of any photographs will usually be requested.
Thank You, Kevin & Wendy 
​
  • Home
  • About Us
  • ROYAL NAVY SHIPS
    • HM BATTLESHIPS >
      • HMS VANGUARD
    • HM CRUISERS >
      • HMS HAMPSHIRE
    • HM MINESWEEPERS >
      • HMS JASON
    • HM DESTROYERS >
      • HMS ALBACORE
      • HMS PHEASANT
      • HMS CHEERFUL
      • HMS MARMION
      • HMS ITCHEN
      • HMS HOSTE
      • HMS NEGRO
      • HMS NESSUS
      • HMS GOLDFINCH
      • HMS ERNE
      • HMS SUCCESS
    • HM TRAWLERS (North) >
      • HMT KIRKLAND
      • HMT LAUREL CROWN
      • HMT LOCH GARRY
      • HMT ASIA
      • HMT ORSINO
      • HMT SARAH ALICE
      • HMT NEATH CASTLE
      • HMT TERN
      • HMT STRATHGARRY
      • HMT ENDEAVOUR
      • HMT LORENZO
      • HMT RESPONSO
      • HMT RONDO
      • HMT VULTURE II
    • HM TRAWLERS (West) >
      • HMT THOMAS STRATTON
      • HMT ROBERT SMITH
      • HMT CALLIOPE II
      • HMT CRATHIE
      • HMT RHODESIA
      • HMT ROLULO
      • HMT JOHN G. WATSON
      • HMT EDISON
    • HM TRAWLER (East) >
      • HMT PITSTRUAN
      • HMT KNOT
      • HMT YESSO
      • HMT GELSINA
      • HMT OTHONNA
      • HMT PLETHOS
      • HMT TEAL
    • HM DRIFTERS >
      • HMD SOUTH ESK
      • HMD LUSTRING
      • HMD CHANCE
      • HMD SUSIE ROSS
      • HMD LEONARD
    • HM AUXILIARY VESSELS >
      • HMS OTWAY
      • HMS DUKE OF ALBANY
      • HMS FIONA
      • HMS GRIVE
      • HMS ROEDEAN
      • HMHS MAINE
    • HM YACHTS >
      • HMY CONQUEROR II
      • HMY ZAREFAH
    • HM TUGS >
      • HM TUG OCEANA
    • HM SLOOPS >
      • HMS RHODODENDRON
      • HMS CARNATION
      • HMS BLACKMOREVALE
    • HM SUBMARINES >
      • HMS C34
      • HMS E-49
    • ROYAL FLEET AUXILIARY >
      • RFA BEACON LIGHT
      • RFA OAKLEAF
    • HM STEAM PINNACE >
      • Steam Pinnace 288
      • Steam Pinnace 499
      • Steam Pinnace 588
      • Steam Pinnace Unknown
    • HM LIGHTER >
      • HMS X-138
      • HMS X-172
    • HM WATER CARRIER >
      • WATER TANKER PROGRESS
    • HM MOTOR LAUNCH >
      • HM M.L. 62
      • HM M.L. 191
      • HM M.L. 18
    • HM PUFFER >
      • S.P. DRONE
  • MERCHANT SHIPS
    • S.S. RUBY
    • S.S. EXPRESS
    • S.S. ARGUS
    • S.S. REMUS
    • S.S. SWIFTSURE
    • TRAWLER AMADAVAT
    • S.V. URANIA
    • S.S, ANGLO DANE
  • OTHER TRAGEDIES
    • RNAS AVIATION >
      • SSP 2
      • SSP 4
      • Short 74 Seaplane ''77''
    • ORKNEY >
      • Orkney Tragedies
      • Lieut. Gerald F.W. Addison
      • Diver P.O. Alfred Edwin Church
      • A.B. William Sydney Wooldridge
      • A.B. Charles James Moody
      • Houton ''whaler'' tragedy
      • The Murder of Kuno Eversberg
      • Orkney Rescues
    • SHETLAND >
      • Shetland Tragedies
      • Lieut. James Winstanley-Pochin R.N.
      • Lerwick Explosion
    • U BOATS >
      • WW1 U BOAT TYPES
      • SM U 18
      • SM U 36
      • SM U 77
      • SM U 92
      • SM U 102
      • SM UC 55
    • INTERNATIONAL >
      • U.S.S RICHARD BULKELEY
      • U.S.S. Curlew
      • USS WILLIAM ROCKEFELLER
  • MAP
  • MEDALS & AWARDS
  • Acknowledgements
  • Abbreviations
  • LINKS
  • Contact