Wreck of Warship That Sank with Over 500 Sailors Discovered

A remarkable discovery has been made by a group of divers off the coast of Scotland. They located the wreck of what is believed to be the HMS Hawke, a World War I battleship that sank in a tragic incident more than a century ago. On October 15, 1914, the ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat, resulting in the loss of over 500 sailors.

The HMS Hawke, a Royal Navy warship, sank rapidly after being hit, with flames engulfing the ship. The horrific event left only 70 sailors alive out of a crew of 594. In total, 524 sailors perished when the ship went down near northern Scotland, as reported by Lost in Waters Deep, an organization dedicated to memorializing naval losses from the First World War.

The discovery of the shipwreck was confirmed by a team of highly skilled technical divers who determined the site where the Hawke is believed to have sunk. According to Lost in Waters Deep, the divers descended to the wreck, located approximately 360 feet underwater, on August 11.

Diver Steve Mortimer elaborated on the methods used for the identification of the wreck. The team analyzed various research materials, including the day journal of the U-boat commander, which provided insights into the ship’s last location prior to the torpedo attack. Logs from other vessels that communicated with the Hawke before its sinking also contributed to pinpointing the site.

In addition to this, divers investigated reports from the 1980s indicating an “obstruction” in the area by Scottish fisheries. Although nothing was found at that specific location, the wreck of the HMS Hawke was ultimately discovered less than a mile away.

Diver Mortimer described the wreck as “a really remarkable time capsule.” The exploration revealed numerous artifacts, including a captain’s walkway around the back of the stern and an array of weapons, affirming its status as a wartime ship. He further shared, “There’s lots of Royal Navy crockery. It is fascinating. She clearly was taken completely by surprise because lots of the portholes are still open… You can look into the portholes and see rooms with artifacts — teacups, bowls, and plates just there on the floor.”

The wreck of the HMS Hawke represents a significant find not just for its historical value, but for the insights it provides into the conditions at sea during a tumultuous time in history. The story of the sailors who lost their lives aboard the ship continues to resonate, and this discovery stands as a tribute to their legacy.

This find underscores the importance of preserving and exploring maritime history. The efforts of the divers and the ongoing research will help ensure that the narrative of the HMS Hawke and other similar naval tragedies are not forgotten.