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WWI Warship Wreck Found
The wreck of a WWI British warship, HMS Stephen Furness, is discovered in the Irish Sea after over a century.
English
United Kingdom
Military TechnologyHistoryDiscoveryWorld War IShipwreckUnderwater Archaeology
Bangor UniversityGerman U-Boat Ub-64
- Where exactly is the wreck located?
- The wreck lies at a depth of 90 meters (295ft), about 10 miles east of the entrance to Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland. The researchers also believe they have located the remains of the SS Maja a few miles further south.
- How did researchers locate the wreck?
- Researchers from Bangor University used high-resolution sonar data and historical records to locate the wreck, which was previously misidentified as a Swedish cargo vessel.
- What was discovered in the Irish Sea?
- The wreck of HMS Stephen Furness, a World War One warship, was discovered in the Irish Sea. It sank after being torpedoed by a German U-boat in December 1917, with only 12 of its 100 crew members surviving.
- Describe the events surrounding the sinking of the ship.
- The torpedo attack on HMS Stephen Furness happened on the afternoon of December 13, 1917, and the ship sank within three minutes. Four crew members washed ashore in North Wales a month later, almost 100 miles away.
- What is the significance of this discovery for historical research?
- This discovery allows researchers to move beyond simple narratives of the war and focus on the human stories of the individuals involved, their lives, and their sacrifices.