South African wreck - The Queen Anne

GraemeG · 26th March 2007, 17:43

Apologies, this isn't actually a rebreather question but I've noticed that there are a number of South African divers on the forum, so thought I'd ask here as my research has stalled..

I'm trying to find information about the wreck of the Queen Anne. She was a cargo vessel torpedoed and sunk in 1943 during WW2 while in a convoy. Her position was given as 34.53S 19.51E by the Uboat commander of U509. Looking at the charts, there is a charted wreck in the same area and the general depth is a very diveable 30m. Has the wreck been found? Is she dived regularly? If so, are their any dive operators who run trips to her and from where? Are they CCR friendly?

Any info, would be greatly appreciated. I'm interested in her primarily as my great uncle was one of five crew lost when she went down.

I've hopefully attached a jpg of her sister ship the Queen Victoria.

Cheers

Graeme

jtresfon · 27th March 2007, 06:42

Hi Graeme

As a South African CCR diver and amateur wreck historian I'll try to answer your questions.

The wreck marked on the chart was put there by the South African Naval Hydrographer, so it definitely exists but I would very much doubt that this is the wreck of the Queen Anne. This is most likely the wreck of a fishing vessel.

My information on the Queen Anne is that she was a British vessel of 4937 tons, sunk in February 1943 by the U-509 in position S34-57 E19-46 (position format HDD-MM).

Your position puts her in 45m odd, my position which is 10.6km further out to sea puts her in 75m odd. Most of the war casualties in our waters occured in the deeper waters.

To the best of MY knowledge the wreck of the Queen Anne has not been found. There are a few local divers that actively search for wrecks and keep their activities well off the radar screen, but I doubt they have found her. My gut feel is that she lies in deeper water (50m plus) and therefore is well out of the range of most divers.

She is certainly not dived on a regular basis! There are over 2500 documented shipwrecks on the SA coastline, the positions of which probably about 250 are known, and of which probably around 100 are dived on a regular basis. There are no dive operators in the area (the nearest is in Hermanus). CCR is very new in Cape Town with there being only about 15 CCR qualified divers, most of which did their Mod 1's late last year. There are only 2 CCR friendly operators.

The easiest way to put the question to bed would be to tow my proton magnetometer over the wreck marked on the chart to locate the exact position, dive her and see what she is. Just bear in mind that this area is reputed for its large population of Great Whites!

Regards
Jean.

GraemeG · 27th March 2007, 18:02

Hi Jean,

Thanks for the info. I'll double check my info. on the position (I may have copied it down wrongly)

I suppose its good news and bad news all in one! Good that shes probably not been salvaged or heavily dived. But bad that, as she has probably not be found yet, I'm less likely to get to dive her.

BTW Do Great Whites go for big yellow turtles?

Thanks again for the info.

Graeme

KenStrickland · 28th March 2007, 08:23

Hey Jean,

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

scunick · 28th March 2007, 13:45

Quote: (Originally Posted by KenStrickland)

Hey Jean,

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Ken, Jean,
only if you include your intrepid silver boxed mate!

Cheers

Nick

jtresfon · 29th March 2007, 05:35

We might have to organise a day out!

Nice avatars guys, you must know a photographer!

P.S. Ken as you are a qualified CCR diver I must ask what those bubbles are doing coming from you as you photograph the shark... or were they from something other than your YBOD???

Rgds
Jean.

KenStrickland · 29th March 2007, 07:22

Quote: (Originally Posted by jtresfon)

P.S. Ken as you are a qualified CCR diver I must ask what those bubbles are doing coming from you as you photograph the shark... or were they from something other than your YBOD???
Jean.

Hmmm, you noticed. Well, the shark WAS pretty close! Looking forward to getting closer next time

.

**aainslie** · 10th April 2007, 05:24

Oi! Both of you! Where are my copies of the shark pics?

jtresfon · 23rd April 2007, 05:53

Welcome Andrew!

The pics can be found at Untitled Document

Regards
Jean.

27th March 2007, 06:42	#2 (permalink)
jtresfon New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cape Town Posts: 23	Re: South African wreck - The Queen Anne Hi Graeme As a South African CCR diver and amateur wreck historian I'll try to answer your questions. The wreck marked on the chart was put there by the South African Naval Hydrographer, so it definitely exists but I would very much doubt that this is the wreck of the Queen Anne. This is most likely the wreck of a fishing vessel. My information on the Queen Anne is that she was a British vessel of 4937 tons, sunk in February 1943 by the U-509 in position S34-57 E19-46 (position format HDD-MM). Your position puts her in 45m odd, my position which is 10.6km further out to sea puts her in 75m odd. Most of the war casualties in our waters occured in the deeper waters. To the best of MY knowledge the wreck of the Queen Anne has not been found. There are a few local divers that actively search for wrecks and keep their activities well off the radar screen, but I doubt they have found her. My gut feel is that she lies in deeper water (50m plus) and therefore is well out of the range of most divers. She is certainly not dived on a regular basis! There are over 2500 documented shipwrecks on the SA coastline, the positions of which probably about 250 are known, and of which probably around 100 are dived on a regular basis. There are no dive operators in the area (the nearest is in Hermanus). CCR is very new in Cape Town with there being only about 15 CCR qualified divers, most of which did their Mod 1's late last year. There are only 2 CCR friendly operators. The easiest way to put the question to bed would be to tow my proton magnetometer over the wreck marked on the chart to locate the exact position, dive her and see what she is. Just bear in mind that this area is reputed for its large population of Great Whites! Regards Jean. __________________ www.underwaterimages.co.za It's not about being down deepest or longest, it's what you do when you're down there!
(Offline)

27th March 2007, 18:02	#3 (permalink)
GraemeG New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Evolution Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 5	Re: South African wreck - The Queen Anne Hi Jean, Thanks for the info. I'll double check my info. on the position (I may have copied it down wrongly) I suppose its good news and bad news all in one! Good that shes probably not been salvaged or heavily dived. But bad that, as she has probably not be found yet, I'm less likely to get to dive her. BTW Do Great Whites go for big yellow turtles? Thanks again for the info. Graeme
(Online)

28th March 2007, 08:23	#4 (permalink)
KenStrickland New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Ray Other Rebreather/s: Ray Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cape Town Posts: 15	Re: South African wreck - The Queen Anne Hey Jean, Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
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28th March 2007, 13:45	#5 (permalink)
scunick Nick Cunningham-Moorat Current Rebreather/s: Other CCR Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Inspiration Vision Other CCR Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: South Africa - Cape Town Posts: 95	Re: South African wreck - The Queen Anne Quote: (Originally Posted by KenStrickland) Hey Jean, Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Ken, Jean, only if you include your intrepid silver boxed mate! Cheers Nick
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29th March 2007, 05:35	#6 (permalink)
jtresfon New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cape Town Posts: 23	Re: South African wreck - The Queen Anne We might have to organise a day out! Nice avatars guys, you must know a photographer! P.S. Ken as you are a qualified CCR diver I must ask what those bubbles are doing coming from you as you photograph the shark... or were they from something other than your YBOD??? Rgds Jean. __________________ www.underwaterimages.co.za It's not about being down deepest or longest, it's what you do when you're down there!
(Offline)

29th March 2007, 07:22	#7 (permalink)
KenStrickland New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Ray Other Rebreather/s: Ray Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cape Town Posts: 15	Re: South African wreck - The Queen Anne Quote: (Originally Posted by jtresfon) P.S. Ken as you are a qualified CCR diver I must ask what those bubbles are doing coming from you as you photograph the shark... or were they from something other than your YBOD??? Jean. Hmmm, you noticed. Well, the shark WAS pretty close! Looking forward to getting closer next time .
(Offline)

10th April 2007, 05:24	#8 (permalink)
aainslie So Cal Tech Diver Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: LA Posts: 167	Re: South African wreck - The Queen Anne Oi! Both of you! Where are my copies of the shark pics?
(Online)

23rd April 2007, 05:53	#9 (permalink)
jtresfon New Member Current Rebreather/s: Inspiration Vision Other Rebreather/s: Inspiration Classic Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cape Town Posts: 23	Re: South African wreck - The Queen Anne Welcome Andrew! The pics can be found at Untitled Document Regards Jean. __________________ www.underwaterimages.co.za It's not about being down deepest or longest, it's what you do when you're down there!
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