HMS Saucy Finstrokes Dive sites

HMS Saucy

Type: A 579 ton steam Tug

Picture:

Wreck Information: Built by Livingstone & Cooper in 1918 and displacing 579 tons the wreck is 40 metres long and the beam is 10 metres. The orientation along the keel is 338/158 degrees, with the bow to the NW. The bow stands approximately 4 metres above seabed. The stern has broken up. The vessel has a metal hull with a wooden deck.

Sadly at 1955hrs on September the 4th in 1940 in the Firth of Forth,Scotland she lost radio contact with a shore base when she hit a German mine and sank with the loss of 26 crew members,Eighteen of the Twenty Six crew who lost their lives came from Brixham, the other Eight crew are believed to have resided in the Hull area there could have been approx 5 survivors.

HMS Saucy is intact for three-quarters of her length. Only the stern is missing, after being blown off by the mine that sank her.

She is covered in life, mainly orange or white plumose anemones

The Gun on the Bow is impressive and is also covered in life, forward of this and past the spray desk, you come to the intact Bow, ypu can drop to the seabed here at 23m in a scour pit.

The two large anchors are still in place each side of the bow, and are again covered in anemones. Back up to the deck, heading aft passing the gun you come to the remains of the wheelhouse with a companionway on the port side. The entrance inside the Ship is here but this is a War Grave so please respect this an d d o not enter. At the rear of the wheelhouse there is a large reel of cable. Brass Portholes can still be seen on this wreck.

Here you can see Stairways lea d d own into the wreck silted up, aft of this the wreck begins to break up, there is a large opening here which shows the engine workings. Lots of Fish, Lobsters and edible crabs can be found here.

The wreck was reported as 130 feet (40 metres) overall. The beam is 33 feet (10 metres). The orientation along the keel is 338/158 degrees, with the bow to the NW. At position 56 02 11.5N, 003 10 45W, the bow stands approximately 4 metres above seabed. The stern has broken up. The vessel has a metal hull wit h a wooden deck. Considerable scouring was observed around the bow.

Hydrographic Office 1995.

Harbour / slip: Granton, South Queensferry , North Queensferry , Burntisland

Parking directions: Parking ok at all harbours

Distance from harbour:

Lat & Long: 56 02 11.5N, 003 10 45W

Chart: Admiralty SC734/ Imray C27

Depth: 15m

Tides: Tide Tables

Diveboat: North Star

Diveshop: Splash Sports Dundee Aquastars

Accommodation:

Suggested experience: Sport Diver

Other comments: Dive on high neap tides when there has been no Easterlies. War Grave Please Respect her