Maritime record FEX 459 - Wreck of the HMS Arethusa

Remains of 1916 wreck of British light cruiser, located on the Cutler Sand. HMS ARETHUSA stranded and broke her back on the Shoal after being mined, while returning to her base at Harwich from patrol off the Texel. Constructed of steel in 1913, she was driven by steam turbine engines. In 1924 another vessel, the DOMINION, is said to have been involved in a collision with the wreck of the ARETHUSA. (See 912649 / TM 33 NE 5)
Status: Site

Wreck Site and Archaeological Remains:

Horizontal Datum: OGB (1)
Vertical Datum: LAT (1)(9)
Quality of Depth: swept by wire drag (1)(9)
Method of Fix: HF (1)
Orientation: 055/235 (1)(9)

Upper works visible position 51 58 30N 001 27 10E.

Sank off SE side of Cutler Sand in a position defined by Bawdsey Seamark bearing 329 degrees (N 17.5 degrees W magnetic) distance 1.8 miles.

24-JUL-1947: This wreck was abandoned in Aug-1916.

01-AUG-1958: Depth and position confirmed by echosounder.

12-JUL-1960: Swept clear at 4ft, foul at 5ft, depth close W 7ft.

20-AUG-1973: Position 51 58 30.7N 001 27 07E. 1.2m (4ft) in 6m (20ft) in sandwaves and edge of Cutler Bank. Not well defined echosounder contact in good condition. Divers report lying on her keel with slight list and firmly embedded in sand ships side still solid, but upperwork heavily corroded and weed covered.

12-FEB-1979: Shown in 51 58 30.5N 001 27 05E with least depth 1.8m and apparently orientated NE/SW.

17-OCT-1984: Examined in 51 58 31N 001 27 06E. Least echosounder depth 1.8m in general depth 7m. Scour depth 8m. Side scan sonar height 5.2m, length 70m approx. Apparently intact, lying 055/235 degrees. (1)

A gravy boat and a uniform button recovered from this wreck, position 51 58.35N 001 27.12E. (Droit A/2892). (3)

A brass deck tap, a decklight tap, and a brass item recovered from this wreck NE of Felixstowe, position 51 54N 001 20E. (Droit A/3600). (3)

Charted without qualification as HMS ARETHUSA in 7m general depth; 70m long. Seen to be located on the Cutler Sand. (9)

Wreck Event and Documentary Evidence:

11-FEB-1916: Wrecked near Harwich after being damaged by a mine. (2)

The light cruiser ARETHUSA was the flagship of Commodore R Y Tyrwhitt, commanding the Harwich force of light cruisers and destroyers. She was officially the flagship of the 5th light cruiser squadron. The ARETHUSA hit a mine in the Sledway Channel, returning from the watch on the Texel station. Her position on striking was near the North Cutler buoy. The destroyers LOYAL and LIGHTFOOT tried to tow her into port, in vain and she became a total loss on the Cutler Shoal. (4)(5)

11-FEB-1916: Sunk by mine in the North Sea. (6)

She struck a mine in the Sledway Channel that had been laid by UC-7; the explosion occurred under the machinery and she lost power and began to settle. Attempts to take her in tow failed and she drifted onto Cutler Shoal and broke in half. The stoker had apparently slept through the explosion and became trapped below, eventually clambering up the inside of the aft funnel and onto the quarterdeck. Her papers and portable items were salvaged the next day. (7)

11-FEB-1916: ARETHUSA sunk off Felixstowe by mine. (8)

'The first really serious loss was the mining of HMS ARETHUSA, the cruiser bearing Commodore Tyrwhitt's broad pendant, on February 12, 1916, on her way back to Harwich. She struck a mine in the Sledway close to the South Cutler, the channel not having been swept that day because of the unusually bad weather. Abandoned in a sinking condition, she drove upon the Cutler Shoal and eventually broke her back. This was the first group of mines laid inside the Shipwash shoal, the submarine responsible having probably used the Rough Buoy, which at that time still carried a light, to verify her position.' (10)

11-FEB-1916: HMS ARETHUSA mined off the North Cutler Buoy, Harwich Roads, with 10 lives lost. Mine laid by UC-7 (Georg Haag). (11)

Built: 1913 (2)(4)(11)
Launched: 25-OCT-1913 (6)(8)
Completed: August 1914 (6)
Builder: Chatham Dockyard (2)(4)(11)
Where Built: Chatham (2)(4)(11)
Propulsion: 2 screw-driven steam turbine engines (4)
HP: 30,000 (4)
Boilers: 8 (4)
Armament: 2 x 6", 6 x 4" guns, 4 x TT (2)(4); 8 x 21" TT above water (8)
Commanding Officer: Commodore Reginald Tyrwhitt (4)
Crew: 318 (4); stated as the complement in (8)
Crew lost: 8 (7); 10 (4)(11)
Owner: Royal Navy [all sources]

Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss