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SUCS SUB Weekend
Saturday 14th May - M2
Well the weather looked decidedly rough on the way down on Friday and we thought that we'd be lucky if we managed the Harbour let alone the M2. Still it’s a late start Saturday and a chance to have a lie-in. So that means a planning session and a discussion involving the merits of Red vs White!
Dinky doesnt care , he'll drink anything.
With anybody , so it seems!
Gil & Rich try and decide - Red or White?
They've decided it's Orange & White!
Next day and with NE winds still forcing the waves right through into the haven itself, we are not that hopeful, but we plan to stick our head round the bill, see if it's sheltered and if no good head for the Countess.
Even later start so ropes off at 1300, just over an hour later and dispite being chucked aound the boat the penisular does its job as a break and the water goes flat. Still cloudy, but this dive is ON!
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HMS M2
M2 - 26 Jan 1932 - Sank whilst surfacing
At 9 o’clock on the morning of 26th January 1932 HMS M2 left Portland to take part in routine exercises. At 1011 she signalled her intention to dive at 1030. This was the last communication with the submarine. The loss of radio communication did not cause any consternation until M2 failed to return to port as expected at 1615. Search vessels were dispatched but there was no sign of the submarine or her crew. No explanation could be found for her loss until the Admiralty received a report from the captain of the coaster Tynesider which reported seeing a submarine diving stern first off Portland. This had caused the Captain some anxiety but he thought he saw the same submarine a short time later. M2’s exact position remained a mystery for a week until the Destroyer Torrid picked up sonar sounds that indicated a sunken submarine; divers confirmed this to be M2 lying with her stern in the sand at a depth of 90ft
Two bodies were recovered from the wreck during the next week. A number of attempts were made to raise the vessel but all failed.
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Rich & Dinky - Ready to Rumble!
Got a mixed crew today. Damien & Phil are on manifold twins as are Tim & Dinky all 32%. I’m on my Indies with Gil on a 12+pony which even with deco she will hardly use (she just doesn’t breathe!). Dave and Rich 15’s each and Andy & Angus on turtles. Pete & Charlotte are sitting this out as it’s too deep, so guess who are the dive bitches :-0
Can you see a diver? There are 12 here somewhere.
Shot’s in and the the CCR's go in first as we know they will be in longer than any of us, now it's our turn. Phil blows the whistle and off we go, down the shot and slap bang on the forward deck just in front of the hanger.
Dispite what we thought, the water is surprisingly clear and we have a good 5m viz + a fair bit of natural light. Got 10 divers on this sub + up-top we know 2 other boats are on their way. That means priority is the hanger if we are going to stand a chance of missing the silt-out. Trouble is that someone had already been in and it was, well silted out. Stuck my head in, but I had a whole sub to explore, so let's move on.
Very slight current running across, so kept low and skirted right towards the stern , low enough to miss the top of the sub, but not right on the seabed. We can see the end of hanger and the sail of the conning tower above us. Bit further and we are alongside and then up a bit onto the large stern planes. The hull is tapering a lot now and we reach the point of the stern which is now bang on 30m. Quick drop down 2 mts and we can see the large rudder and deck at 34m.
Now for the sub deck itself. Start up onto the top of stern and along the centre. That slight current is picking up a bit so drop down a little and still on the sub’s deck, but using part of the hull for shelter. Loads of holes with a few small congers, but not anywhere as big as subs like the U90. Bit further and it’s the conning tower.
Quick rummage around and over the top, back down to sub deck again. Checking out the launching rail and remains of the hidden deck gun I can feel the current starting to pick up. Saw the tail of a conger next to a large crab. Do I tweak his tail or grab the crab? No, lets not eh!
Air check and I’m 40 minutes into this dive and have still got 310 bar over the indies (dont you just love twins!). Still with just under 10 minutes including stops and that cup of tea calling, decided to go home. Maddingly long deploy (well it was about 2 minutes, but seemed longer) while I did the equivalent of trying to get the carrier bags open at Tescos. Gil was a second away from doing the “all men are useless” bit, but eventually we sorted it and started up while drifting, sort of towards the bow.
Phil (skipper) giving Gil a lift (ooh err missis)
An apre dive Victorian Dad.
Still can't find those divers.
Total was 49 mins - Max depth 32.3m - Gas 32% - Deco 5mins – Viz 5-6m
Verdict: Excellent.
2nd Dive - Fennell & Gertrude - 20.1m
Who went: DaveC, Dinky, Damien, Pete, Charlotte, Gil, PhilK, Terry, Andy, Angus, Rich, Tim.
More on:
Sunday 15th May - Sidon
The choice was an early or late start. Don't mind doing two earlies, but a late followed by an early is way too much. So Sunday morning sees this lot off to Old Harbour for a top-up and those all-important nitrox fills.
Told Phil he ought to do something about his SAC
Sidon is a WW11 wreck and quite different from the unique M2. Almost the same position a few miles off Chesil, so with the tide now about 30 minutes later we head out at 1300. Weather is considerably better than Saturday and a real chance of some sun this time.
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HMS Sidon
HMS Sidon Sank in Portland Harbour 16 June 1955 after torpedo explosion in tube. Resunk as Asdic target 14th June 1957.
On 16th June 1955 Sidon was moored beside her parent ship, HMS Maidstone, waiting her allotted time to cast away for torpedo firing trials. At 0825 a loud explosion shook the submarine as one of the highly volatile hydrogen peroxide motors of the torpedoes exploded. A cloud of smoke rose from the conning tower hatch as the order to abandon ship was given. Sidon soon began to sink and at 0845 went down by the bows. Several divers at once entered the water and began tapping messages on Sidon’s hull to those trapped inside the submarine. By early afternoon it was apparent that all 12 men inside were dead or incapable of replying to the tapping. On 23rd/24th June Sidon was raised and the deceased were buried on the 28th in a small naval cemetery in Portland. On 14th June 1957 Sidon was towed from Portland and sunk as a target. She now lies off Portland at a depth of 34 meters.
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Looking at the same sort of profile so mixes are pretty much the same with the odd stage tweak.
Andy doing his gurning impression.
In first is Andy & Mark and we have about a minute wait until the pill comes up and we know the shot is very much on the wreck. Now it's a three with Damien, Dinky & Sonic, followed by Phil & myself. DaveC/Gareth, Gil/Rich are last in.
Shot is bang on the wreck, on the edge of the conning tower, opposite side to the picture below.
Quick in and around the tower and it's off to the stern. As it's a younger wreck there is very little damage, but still plenty to see. Over the hull and deck areas finaly ending up at the stern to drop down to take a gander underneath. Now you expect subs to sit on the bottom and half expect them to be buried in the gravel, but the Sidon isnt that buried and looks like it's just sat on the seabed. You can actually see the bowed shape of the hull as it curves up to the stern.
Right, times getting on and we need to get to the bow. Hardeck again is about 34m, we are just over 30m and traverse along the edge looking over every now and again onto the deck. Past the conning tower I signal let's go up and we again are in the bridge, but now on the other side as in the picture.
Drop down the front of the conning tower and along the deck we pass a very large open hatch, now very silted. Over the side just as it visably starts to taper. Obvious what we are looking for and yes there are the two large scoops of the torpedo tubes.
Do the same again and drop down a little more to reveal that bowed shape again. The whole front section of at least 10m + is off the seabed and curving towards the sky.
Quick gas check and we scoot over to a sheltered part of the deck superstructure to do the usual task sharing act to deploy the blob. Time to go.
Rich & Gil
Rich looking like he's asleep. Sorry he is!
Sonic does a startled rabbit impression while Roz grows bunny ears.
Round Portland Bill and the end of a good day.
Especially if you also have something for tea!
Total time 55mins - Max depth 33.6m- Gas 32% - Deco 5mins (was 1min, but Phil's Suunto was doing it's "let's do 5x more than anybody else" routine). Viz 6-7m.
Verdict: Excellent dive, but a bit too new to be as interesting as the older WW1 subs.
2nd Dive - Drift with lots of Scalloping :-)
Who went: DaveC, Dinky, Damien, Sonic, Roz, Gil, PhilK, Terry, Andy, Mark, Rich, Gareth.
More:
Kursk/Sidon Link with more detail
TerryH