Wave Shape
Wave Shape

Kylemore (Paddle Steamer)

Wave Shape

POSITION…. 53 08 258 N / 001 14 750 E
DEPTH….23mtrs Max
PROPULSION… PADDLE/STEAM
BUILDDATE… 1897
WEIGHT…319 grt
DIMENSIONS… LENGTH 61mtrs/BEAM 7.3mtrs/DRAUGHT 2.3mtrs
MATERIAL…STEEL
POWER 93nhp
SPEED…15 knots
DATE LOST..21/081940
CAUSE OF LOSS…BOMBED/GERMAN AIRCRAFT
BUILDER… RUSSELL & CO/ GREENOCK
ENGINE… COMPOUND/ x1 BOILER
UKHO SONAR DIMENSIONS…. SONAR LENGTH 92mtrs / SONAR WIDTH 20mtrs / SHADOW HEIGHT 4mtrs

History of the Kylemore

The Kylemore served in both WW1 and WW11. When built in 1897 at Port Glasgow she worked as a passenger steamer on the Clyde. Her owner at this time being Alex Williamson.

Early on in her working life the Kylemore was sold to the Glasgow and South West railway company and renamed Vulcan. Another change of owners once again found her renamed, this time as the Britannia.

She was taken over by the Royal Navy at the start of WW1, fitted with a 6 pounder gun and used as a minesweeper until 1920. After this time she resumed her civilian duties.

The Kylemore’s services was once again called upon by the Royal Navy during WW11. She was at this time fitted with a 12 pounder gun and AA (anti aircraft) machine gun. She became net layer J101 with the 12th minesweeping flotilla basd at Harwich.

On the 21st August 1940 she was bombed and sent to the bottom by a German Heinkel 111K bomber.

Armament

12 POUNDER DECK GUN

The QF (quick fire) 12 pounder was a common, versatile 3inch (79mm) calibre naval gun introduced in 1894 and used until the middle of the 20th century. The 12 pounder was a rounded reference to the projectile weight.

VICKERS .50 MACHINE GUN (ANTI AIRCRAFT)

The Vickers machine gun, also known as the Vickers 50 was basically the same as the .303 Vickers machine gun but scaled up to use the larger calibre 0.5 inch round.

The Kylemore Today

The Kylemore makes for an exceptional dive, she retains many of her features including paddle wheels, the port wheel being almost intact. Her boiler and compound engine are evident amid ships as is the head. The tiled floor along with her upturned toilet is to be seen.

In this area you will also find large quantities of the vickers machine gun ammunition. The site has been heavily potted over the years and in low visibility could prove quite hazardous with all the pot lines that adorn the wreck.

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