HMS Exmouth
On 21 January 1940, whilst conducing escort duties in the North Sea, HMS Exmouth was torpedoed by German U-boat U-22 and sank with the loss of all 190 crew. A small team of divers visited the site 64 years later to keep the memory of their story alive.
The survey of HMS Exmouth stirred some powerful emotions in the team. We were all changed by the experience in a way that we had not anticipated at the outset. Completing this website will take time but we felt that there was something that can be done in the interim.
The RNLI Exmouth Lifeboat Station is at present raising funds for a new Shannon Class lifeboat. The RNLI has a scheme whereby you can sponsor a name in order to raise funds. Its seems fitting that the names of those lost on HMS Exmouth should be recorded on the hull of this new lifeboat.
Please help us to keep their legacy alive.
August 2024, revisiting Exmouth
As divers, we have the fortune to see what lies beneath the waves. In August 2024, a small team left Wick to visit the site where HMS Exmouth was lost. We dived the site for 6 days recording what we saw with video, photography, sketches and exploration. This website tells the story of what we found.
This too is a story that will unfold over time as we assemble all the pieces and compile our records. The website will grow as we progress until we get to the stage that a final report can be released. Come back often and watch the journey unfold.
Side-scan Survey
A side scan sonar was towed above the site to illustrate the seabed and give the team broad scale map.
Dive Survey
A team of 12 divers conducted 6 dives over the week.
Document the Site
The site was documented through photography, videography and photogrammetry.
Damage Investigation
The team searched for the supporting evidence to understand the damage HMS Exmouth sustained
Historical Research
The survey was supported by considerable archival research, including the Court of Inquiry, original plans and contemporary records.
Output
The wealth of information thrown up by the survey will take time to document and present. That journey will be exhibited on this website as it unfolds, culminating in a final report.
“I had the honour of laying a wreath at Wick Cemetery, beside the graves of 18 sailors who washed ashore.”
Jen Smith
Lieutenant Commander
