Boulderpool SS (Forward and aft sections)

Positions
Forward section ... 52 58'16,4 N / 01 28'30,7 E
Aft section ... 53 38'00,2 N / 01 47'45,7 E
........................
Nationality ... British
Propulsion ... Steam
Built ... 1928
Tonnage ... 4805 grt
Dimensions ... 123.4 x16.3 x 8 mtrs
Engine x1 triple expansion / 3 cylinders
Boiler ... x3 scotch type, 3 corrugated furnaces per boiler
Power ... 508 nhp
Speed ... 11 knots
Yard no ... 843
Official no ... 160758
Date lost ... 8th March 1941
Cause ... S Boat, Torpedo whilst attached to convoy FN-426
Builder ... Smith Dock & Co Ltd, South Bank, Middlesbrough
Engine builder ... Smith Dock & Co Ltd ..............
Owner ... Sir R. Ropner & Co Ltd (Pool Shipping) West Hartlepool, Sunderland

Convoys FS-429 and FN-426

On the night of the 7th March 1941 the German 1st MTB Flotilla consisting of S26 / S27 / S28 / S29 / S101/ S102/, along with the 3rd MTB Flotilla consisting of S31 / S57 / S59 / S60 / and S61, made a night time sortie on both convoys FN-426 and FS-429 off Yarmouth and Cromer . The attack saw five vessels lost from convoy FN-426 (listed below) and two vessels from Convoy FS-429, these being the Boulderpool (S61) and Kenton (S31).

Convoy FN- 426 was escorted by the destroyers Versatile and Berkeley along with the patrol sloop Sheldrake, the sheldrake narrowly missing being hit by one of the S Boats torpedoes.

Convoy FS-429 was escorted by the destroyer Pytchley and the patrol sloop Puffin.

The destroyers Worcester and Whitshed were dispatched to cover both convoys.

Circumstances of loss

Attached convoy FS-429, whilst in ballast, the Boulderpool was torpedoed by the S Boat S61 of the 3rd MTB Flotilla. During the attack on convoy FS-429 the SS Kenton was also lost (S31). During the attack by the 3rd MTB Flotilla on convoy FN-426 of the same night the following ships were lost. SS Norman Queen by (S101) // SS Corduff by(S28) // SS Rye by (S27) // SS Togston by (S102) and the SS Dotterel that later beached after being attacked by (S29).

Due to the effects of the torpedo strike by S61, the Boulderpool broke in two. Her aft section stayed afloat for a considerable time and drifted south before grounding on Scroby Sands.

UKHO, Forward section.

13/06/41 ... One mast visible

15/09/41 ... Bouyed close to SW of wreck

08/09/43 ... Least depth over the wreck, 5 fathoms and 4 feet (10.3mtrs)

16/11/48 ... Swept clear after dispersal. Clear at 46 feet (13.9mtrs) in general depth of 72 feet (21.8mtrs)

10/02/92 ... Swept clear at 17mtrs in general depth of 20.5mtrs. Broken wreckage

September 2015 ... Length 90mtrs, height 4mtrs, width 35mtrs. Well broken, partially buried.

Aft section

According to UKHO records the aft section covers and uncovers as the sands move. For the most part when the aft section is exposed it sits in no more than a few metres of water and is more often than not partially buried in the sands.

Smith Dock & Co Ltb, builders of the Boulderpool and her engine, or just Smith's Dock as they were often referred were of High Docks, North Shields, and later of South Bank on the River Tees. Prior to the company being known as Smith's Dock, a name change that came to pass in 1891, it was formerly called William Smith & Co, established in 1810 by Thomas Smith when he bought William Rowe's shipyard at St Peters, Newcastle Upon Tyne. In 1851, the company (William Smith & Co) opened its docks in North Shields.

In 1907, now with its new name, Smith Dock Company set up an operation on the River Tees South Bank. Smith Dock closed its North Shields yard in 1909, in turn focussing its operations on the River Tees South Bank.

Of note, Smith's Dock were famously known for preparing the design of the Flower Class Corvette, this having the role of an anti submarine convoy escort vessel of WWll

In 1966, SSmith Dock merged with Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson to form Assocciated Shipbuilders, later becoming the Swan Hunter Group.

The Boulderpool today.

Awaiting divers report.