Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The Remains of a British Tanker which was used at a block ship at the entrance to Dover Harbour 1940. Its position was confirmed by a geophysical survey undertaken in the harbour in 2008. (location accurate to the nearest 10m based on available information)

Monument Types

• WRECK (Modern - 1940 AD to 1940 AD)

Full description

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Vertical Datum: LAT WAR SEPOY sunk as blockship, had previously been damaged beyond repair by German aircraft. A vessel was also sunk as a blockship in this location during WWI. 01-NOV-1930 Eastern block ship dries 4ft between light beacons, while there is a least depth of 12ft at outer beacon. Western block ship, least depth between beacons 11ft, depth outer beacon 18ft. 23-FEB-1931 Removal to commence on 2-MAR-1931. 12-FEB-1932 Ship cut into three and will soon be raised. 20-MAY-1933 Salvage of western block ship, one portion of the wreck was removed to the inside of the outer harbour bearing 22deg 325ft from the end of the western jetty of the camber. A second portion about 150ft in length was removed to the eastward end of the eastern arm. 10-JUN-1933 Portion lying at the end of western jetty lifted and taken further inshore to the west side of this pier. 06-JUL-1933 Both of these portions are just awash at low water springs and each portion is approximately 145 x 43ft wide. 25-SEP-1934 Portion lying west of west jetty removed. 07-APR-1941 wreck is in 3 sections; 1.311Deg 400ft, 2.245Deg 330ft, 3.229Deg 630ft, all from light on SW end of detached mole. 22-APR-1950 Salvage operations in progress. 16-FEB-1952 Shape and depths of remaining wreckage in west entrance to Dover harbour. 11-APR-1961 Fore part of WAR SEPOY lying alongside 1914 block ship SPANISH PRINCE. Bow to seaward. Least depth over wreck 21ft, length of portion extended from 172ft to approximately 200ft due to collapse of bridge superstructure. Total weight of scrap metal about 950tons. Condition of wreck much deteriorated since 1951. 29-SEP-1977 Wreck removed on 26-APR-1964, and the western harbour entrance was opened for traffic, depth 8.8m. 11-FEB-1985 Depth shown as 9.2m 25-MAR-1988 Depth 8.8m 03-May-1990 Depth 8.2m. (1-2)

A Marine geophysical survey was undertaken by iX Survey Ltd. on behalf of Maritime Archaeology within Dover Harbour. All areas to be investigated were surveyed utilising a high resolution multibeam echosounder, with side scan sonar used to identify debris and wrecks in the area of interest. The War Sepoy was sunk as part of the world war two defences. The vessel was broken into three sections and placed in various locations within the entrance. Over the intervening years the vessel was partially recovered and the sections repositioned. The bow section of the War Sepoy is discernable – albeit broken – lying obliquely against the stern (western side) of the Spanish Prince. Two further sections are faint and lie approximately central within the entrance. (3-4)

<1> Hydrographic Office wreck index, Extracted 20-JAN-1993, Page Nos. N/a (Bibliographic reference). SKE6339.

<2> Hampshire and Wight Trust for Maritime Archaeology, 1993, Desk based study of the maritime archaeological potential in areas under proposal for the Dover & Folkeston (Unpublished document). SKE6801.

<3> Maritime Archaeology, 2008, Dover Harbour Geophysical Site Survey (Unpublished document). SKE31715.

<4> Maritime Archaeology, 2008, Dover Marine Geophysical Survey Report (Unpublished document). SKE52023.

Sources and further reading