Summary : A Post-war bombing target, visible as the Second World War wreck of the British collier SS Fernwood, was mapped from aerial photographs taken in 1946. Located on Langford Grounds in Woodspring Bay, SS Fernwood about 55 metres long, lying WSW-ENE, with the bow to ENE and the stern to the WSW, with the hull's shape still being recognisable in 1979 dated aerial photographs. SS Fernwood was destroyed by German aircraft off Dartmouth on 18th September 1942 at 1130am. Built in 1923, the vessel was moored permanently midstream in Dartmouth and used as a coal storage hulk. The 1,892 ton steel screw steamer was sunk with 700 tons of coal on board whilst coaling a minesweeper in mid-river with a loss of four lives. The vessel was then salved and used as one of two bombing targets by the military air gunnery range and weapons test site on St Thomas's Head (ST 36 NW 14). The wreck of HMS Staghound (ST 36 NE 12) lies about 140 metres ENE. In aerial photographs taken in 2000, the Fernwood's superstructure has been largely destroyed, with pieces of the vessel scattered around, although the buried hull appears still intact. |
More information : The larger of two wrecks in close proximity. The FERNWOOD, which was an Admiralty collier, was unloading at Dartmouth when she was attacked by German aircraft. The forward part was raised and towed to Weston-Super-Mare for conversion to a block ship in 1944, used for experimental purposes. The after part was cut up and placed ashore at Dartmouth. The 6 passengers were gunners.
14-NOV-1972: In position 51 24.21N, 02 54.22W, dries at 21ft and is very broken up. She is the larger of the two vessels, the other being the STAGHOUND. (1)
Sunk at Dartmouth; the fore portion of the wreck was raised and taken to Weston-super-Mare for experimental purposes. (2)
Appears both in the list of Warships and Auxiliary Vessels, as an Admiralty Collier, and in the list of Merchant Vessels:
Requisitioned vessel, sunk by aircraft at Dartmouth, subsequently salved. (3)
Bombed by aircraft at Dartmouth. (4)
Date of loss given as the date of the original bombing at Dartmouth, i.e. 18.09.1942.
Serving with the Admiralty as a collier, this vessel was bombed by German aircraft at Dartmouth, South Devon, where she sank, one crew member out of 20 being killed, and her 6 DEMS gunners saved. The fore portion of the wreck was raised and taken to Weston-super-Mare for experimental purposes. The stern part of the wreck was cut up at Dartmouth and placed ashore. (5)
The cargo ship FERNWOOD, discharging coal at Dartmouth, was sunk by German bombers on 18-SEP-1942. (6)
Built: 1923 (5) Builder: Sir J Laing & Sons Ltd. (5) Where Built: Sunderland (5) Propulsion: Screw driven, 3 cylinder triple expansion engine (5) HP: 199 (5) Boilers: 2 (5) Machinery: G Clark Ltd., Sunderland (5) Construction: 1 deck; well-deck (5) Crew: 20 [on original attack in 1942] (2) Crew Lost: 1 [on original attack in 1942] (2) Passengers: 6 (DEMS gunners) [on original attack in 1942] (2) Owner: W France, Fenwick & Co. Ltd. (5)(6)
Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss
A Post-War bombing target, visible as the Second World War wreck of the British collier SS Fernwood, was mapped from aerial photographs taken in 1946. Located on Langford Grounds in Woodspring Bay, SS Fernwood is centred at ST 3697 6785 and about 55 metres long, lying WSW-ENE, with the bow to ENE and the stern to the WSW, with the hull's shape still being recognisable in 1979 dated aerial photographs. SS Fernwood was destroyed by German aircraft off Dartmouth on 18th September 1942 at 1130am. Built in 1923, the vessel was moored permanently midstream in Dartmouth and used as a coal storage hulk. The 1,892 ton steel screw steamer was sunk with 700 tons of coal on board whilst coaling a minesweeper in mid-river with a loss of four lives. The vessel was then salved and used as one of two targets by the military air gunnery range and weapons test site on St Thomas's Head (ST 36 NW 14). The wreck of HMS Staghound (ST 36 NE 12) lies about 140 metres ENE. In aerial photographs taken in 2000, the Fernwood's superstructure has been largely destroyed, with pieces of the vessel scattered around, although the buried hull appears still intact. (7-12) |