Maritime record MDO20209 - Salsette II

Remains of 1917 wreck of Scottish cargo vessel which foundered 12 miles SW of the Bill of Portland after being torpedoed en route from London to Bombay with a general cargo. Constructed of steel, she was a steam-driven vessel.

Position 50 29.66 N -2 43.02W taken from (10) P&O Liner torpedoed by UB 40 Wreck site and archaeological remains: The wreck has been adopted by divers as part of the Nautical Archaeology Society's "Adopt a Wreck Scheme". Horizontal Datum: OGB Vertical Datum: LAT Quality of Depth: SWS General Depth: 43 metres Orientation: 035/215 Method of Fix: SYL (1) Indexed as SALSETTE II in (6), with a position of loss of 15 miles SW of the Bill of Portland. Wreck lies in general depth of 23 fathoms, on her port side, intact, with her deck vertical to the seabed. Wreck orientated SSW [bows]/NNE. The vessel was originally built to carry 100 first-class, and 120 second-class, passengers for the express mail and passenger service between Bombay and Aden, at a cost of £210,689. (6) Although reported lost 15 miles SW of Portland Bill, she lies 10 miles west of it, and was positively identified by her bell. She lies 15m proud of the seabed with a stern mounted gun. (8)(9) She lies on her port side with her decks sloping down with 300 portholes on each side, her starboard rail being the shallowest point at 32m. Amongst things recovered is her bell. (10) 05-MAR-1918: Reported to have sunk immediately in position 50 30 00N, 02 43 30W. Also reported later to have been lost in position 50 33 00N, 02 43 00W. 09-JUN-1952: Wire drift sweep. Clear at 12, foul at 13 fathoms. Least echosounder depth 85 feet in general depth 23 fathoms. 450 feet long, lying N/S with shallowest part in the centre. The wreck is most substantial and there are parts only about a fathom deeper at either end. Horizontal sextant angle giving 50 29 38N, 02 42 58W. 11-OCT-1977: Originally thought to be the French POLKERRIS. This wreck has now been positively identified as the SALSETTE. Some P & O Company dinner plates have been removed by divers. It is still possible to read the imprint left behind by the removal of the brass name plate letters around her stern. Approx 90 feet over her highest point. The deck is almost vertical to the seabed. Both props have been removed some minor salvage has been carried out. 25-JAN-1983: Wreck shown in decca; conversion 50 29 36N, 02 42 58W. 19-JUL-1984: National Grid coordinates 34 91 65E, 66 36 0N obtained. Swept clear at 19.2, foul at 19.5m. Least echosounder depth 28 in general depth 43m. Scour 1m deep. Side scan sonar height 14m, length 130m, beam 40m. Lying 035/215 degrees and produces a well-defined surface slick in calm sea conditions. 19-OCT-1990: Examined in 50 29 42N, 02 43 00W. Least echosounder obtained 26.75m. Collapsing gradually as deck cross members fail. Lies with bow SSW with anchors still in place. Both masts have fallen and lie along seabed to east of wreck. Deck housing, funnel stub and scuttles are still discernible. (1) 12-JAN-2000: The gun is still in place on the stern. The cabins and superstructure have rotted away. The upper deck is partially collapsed. There is a large winch on deck, forward of the engine room. 19-MAR-2015: The least multibeam depth was 31.08m in 5029.715N, 0243.041W [WGD]. General depth was 42m. Length 146.8m. Width 26.6m. Height 11.4m. The wreck is orientated 035/215 degrees. The wreck is intact but collapsing, on its port side. (17)(18) A brass plaque taken off this wreck (saying "passengers not allowed on this deck") was reported to the Receiver of Wreck. (Droit A/002) (7) A cake stand, with the P and O crest along with a brass telegraph stand (73" tall) have been reported from this wreck. (Droit A/254) (7) A steering wheel and brass seat constructed from brass recovered from this wreck. (Droit A/260) (7) A porthole light with glass and one without recovered from this wreck, position 50 29.66N 002 43.02W. (Droit A/321) (7) A square and a brass porthole window recovered from this site off Lyme Bay. (Droit A/512) (7) A porthole has been recovered from this wreck, 12 miles SW of Portland Bill. (Droit A/546) (7) Three portholes, 2 bath taps, a shower mixer, a navy phone and a brass winch cap recovered from this site. (Droit A/616) (7) A brass light recovered from an unknown wreck, position 50 29.68N 002 43.02W. (Droit A/639) (From the position given the site is most likely to be the SALSETTE) (7) Various dishes, taps, hooks and portholes recovered from this wreck, position 50 29.66N 002 43.02W. (Droit A/646) (7) A 12" porthole, a navy telephone by Alfred Graham and Co. and a lamp by Chance Brothers, Birmingham recovered from position 50 29.39N 002 43W. (Droit A/976) (7) 1 scupper recovered this wreck, in West Bay. (Droit A/1129) (7) A candlestick lamp stand recovered from this wreck in Lyme Bay. (Droit A/1143) (7) A porthole and two plates recovered from this wreck 15 miles SW of Portland Bill. (Droit A/1724) (7) 2 deck fixtures recovered from this wreck, position 50 29.701N 002 43.084W. (Droit A/1900) (7) A porthole of approx. 40lb, serial no.217, recovered from this wreck SW of Portland Bill. (Droit A/1999) (7) 1 P & O dinner plate recovered from this wreck, position 50 29.36N 002 43.10W. (Droit A/2156) (7) A brass applicator recovered from this wreck, position 50 29.36N 002 43.09W. (Droit A/2237) (7) 2 brass driptrays recovered from this wreck, Lyme Bay. (Droit A/2334) (7) A canister recovered from this wreck, Lyme Bay. (Droit A/2410) (7) A porthole recovered from this wreck, position 50 29.701N 002 43.084W. (Droit A/2614) (7) 2 white plates, one with the blue mark of the P & O Line on the edge, and part of a small, badly damaged, jug, thought to be silver plated, recovered from this wreck, position 50 29.39N 002 43.00W. (Droit A/2707) (7) A porthole recovered from this wreck, off Weymouth. (Droit A/2755) (7) An ornate brass hinge recovered from this wreck, W of Portland Bill. (Droit A/2851) (7) A plate recovered from this wreck, position 50 29.70N 002 43.04W. (Droit A/2869) (7) 3 portholes and a light fitting recovered from this wreck, off Weymouth. (Droit A/2923) (7) A steam valve recovered from this wreck, position 50 29.36N 002 43.09W. (Droit A/2961) (7) A scuttle and a soap dish recovered from this wreck, off Portland Bill. (Droit A/3295) (7) A brass porthole and a brass deck grille recovered from this wreck, position 50 29.60N 002 43.15W. (Droit A/3571) (7) A porthole with drip tray, no glass, recovered from this wreck off the Bill of Portland. (Droit A/3584) (7) 2 brass ceiling roses, 2 small brass rings and a brass catch recovered from this wreck out of Weymouth. (Droit A/3586) (7) A porthole recovered from this wreck, Lyme Bay. (Droit A/3695) (7) A coat hook recovered from this wreck, position 50 29.66N 002 43.02W. (Droit A/3793) (7) A brass cooking pot recovered from this wreck, position 50 29.5N 002 43.0W. (Droit A/3839) (7) 5 or 6 unidentified coins fused together recovered from this wreck, position 50 29.66N 002 43.02W. (Droit A/3849) (7) A porthole recovered from this wreck, Lyme Bay. (Droit A/4044) (7) A tap recovered from this wreck, near Portland. (Droit A/4084) (7) A decklight recovered from this wreck. (Droit A/4191) (7) A porthole and a bottle recovered from this wreck, position 50 29.60N 002 43.00W. (Droit A/4338) (7) A plate, 3 plate sherds, a bowl, a chamber pot and a pot recovered from this wreck, off Portland. (Droit A/4465) (7) A helm recovered from the wreck of the SALSETTE, in 50 29N, 02 42W. (Droit 094/01) (16) A gold fob watch chain recovered from the wreck of the SALSETTE, in Lyme Bay. (Droit 343/01) (16) A telephone switch and a rectangular window frame made of brass and measuring 32" x 11", recovered from the wreck of the SALSETTE, off Portland Bill. (Droit 178/02) (19) A brass handle or cleat recovered from the wreck of the SALSETTE in 50 29.67N, 02 43.07W. (Droit 195/02) (19) A pewter ram's head, a large brass desk lamp, a small silver lamp and bracket, two glass medicine bottles, three glass bottle stoppers, a large glass syringe measuring approximately 10" long, and a large brass medical syringe, recovered from the wreck of the SALSETTE in Lyme Bay. (Droit 311/02) (19) A picture frame, probably of lead, 20 x 25cm, of Chinese origin, decorated with a pagoda, peony and magpies, and Chinese characters translating as "Big God Palace", found on the SALSETTE in position 50 29.36N 002 43.09W. (Droit 062/04) (15) Two portholes recovered from the SALSETTE in Lyme Bay, Dorset. (Droit 308/04) (15) Wreck event and documentary evidence: Whilst steaming at 16 knots the SALSETTE was torpedoed in the boiler room by UB-40, sinking within 15 minutes at 1pm. The crew members killed were all from the engine room, the remainder of the crew and passengers getting away safely in the ship's boats. The periscope [of the submarine] was seen only after the explosion. The survivors were picked up after being in the boats for an hour by a patrol vessel and landed at Weymouth. The W/T code books and confidential papers were sunk by the master. (2)(6) SALSETTE sunk by submarine 15 miles SW of Portland Bill, en route London for Bombay with general. (3) SALSETTE torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel 15 miles SW of Portland Bill, by UB-40, while en route London to Bombay with a general cargo. 15 lives were lost. (4) SALSETTE torpedoed without warning 15 miles SW of Portland Bill, with the loss of 15 lives. (5) Torpedoed by UB-40, Oberleutnant Howaldt, on her starboard side amidships killing 14 men. The master quickly gave the order to abandon ship. The explosion was seen by torpedo boat No.80 and he signalled MLs 311 and 209 to join her. They depth charged UB-40 but she escaped. She [the SALSETTE] went down in 15 minutes and a dan buoy was placed close by, as she was so large. 50 29.30N 002 45.45W. She was located by divers in 1974 on her port side in 43m, 34m to her deck. (11) She was torpedoed without warning at 12.47pm, in the stokehold 15 miles SW of Portland Bill while steaming at 16 knots and sank within 15 mins at 1pm. 14 of the engine room staff were killed by the explosion, the rest of the crew and passengers got away safely from the ship. The periscope of the submarine was seen shortly after the explosion. 15 of the crew were lost and the survivors picked up by a patrol vessel and landed at 2pm at Weymouth. The vessel was carrying a general cargo. (12) The SALSETTE (named after an island off Bombay Harbour) was steaming, zig-zagging in Lyme Bay, when she was hit by a torpedo at 12.01 by UB-40, Oberleutnant Howaldt, in the starboard side, in the engine room. The explosion was massive, she sank within 28 minutes. All the survivors were picked up or towed to Weymouth. (13) The P & O liner SALSETTE was used on the London to Bombay run during the First World War as her speed was considered sufficient to protect her against submarine attack. At 10.30pm on 19-JUL-1917, she left the Downs, steaming down the Channel until noon the next day, when she was 15 miles SW of Portland Bill. The first officer then saw a torpedo approaching, and ordered the helm hard-a-starboard immediately, but the explosion occurred, on the starboard side, letting in vast quantities of water. The engines stopped and the order was given to abandon ship, the boats being lowered in 5 minutes. One European and 14 Indian members of the crew lost their lives in the engine room or in the vicinity. No passengers were lost. (14) Built: 1908 (4)(6)(14) Builder: J Caird and Co. (6)(14) Where Built: Greenock (6) Engine HP: 1535 (6)(14) Boilers: 6 (6) Propulsion: 2 screw driven, 8 cylinder quadruple expansion engines (6)(14) Armament: stern-mounted gun (8)(9); 1 x 4.7ins QF gun, stern-mounted (12) Owner: Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. (4)(6)(12)(14) Master: A B Armitage (2)(6)(14); Albert Borlage Armitage, Commander RN, [retired) (11) Crew: 258 (6)(11)(12) Crew Lost: 14 (11)(12); 15 (4)(6)(12)(13)(14) Passengers: 31 (11)(12) Gunners: H Bullen, OS RNR Chatham; G Nicholson, OS RNR Chatham (11) Construction: poop-deck 86ft; bridge-deck 200ft; forecastle 69ft; 2 decks; 4 double and 2 single boilers (2)(6) Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss Additional sources cited in Shipwreck Index of the British Isles: Lloyd's Register 1918-1919 No.285(S)

Record last edited

Apr 15 2024 1:18PM