This is the information page about the shipwreck Empire broadsword, the water chart below shows the wreck in its immediate vicinity. The position of this wreck is 49 25.332 N,0 53.13 W (49.422200, -0.885500)

The texts accompanying this shipwreck are in English 🇬🇧, as they are prepared by the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) based on data from UKHO and the hydrographic services of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, among others. They include the known details of the wreck and the comments of the cartographers who have checked the position and condition of the wreck over time.

Name: EMPIRE BROADSWORD

Length 121 meter, width: 18.3 meter, draught: 10.7, tonnage 7177 ton

Cause: built in 1944 by short bros. struck a mine and sank off normandy coast. 7 lives lost. (ww2sl & dods).

Year of registration: 1944

Water depth above wreck: 20 meter, Height above seabed: 90 cm

Known since: 1944, last detected: 2021

Details measurements/cartography: H02724/44 29.9.44 DW IN 492521N, 005302W. MARKED BY G SPH BUOY, FLG.10S, LAID CLOSE E. (ADMIRALTY).

- NM 2099/44. H389/54 10.2.54 BUOY AMENDED TO G CONL, INTQG, WITH E TOPMARK. (FR NM 53 52 26).

- NM 339/54. H389/54 23.1.56 LEAST DEPTH NOW 10MTRS [5FMS 3FT]. (PARIS NM 55 37 10).

- NM 3174/55. H389/54 16.6.60 AMEND TOPMARK TO W. (AV CHERBOURG 69). R/S. H2329/67 9.5.74 LT DESCRIPTION OF BUOY AMENDED TO QG. (FR NM 74 14 12). R/S. 31.1.79 AMEND BUOY TO E CARD, Q(3)10S, ON IALA NE 2073. H4722/79 30.10.80 LEAST DEPTH OVER WK NOW REPD AS DRIES 0.4MTR. (AV. CHERBOURG 1321/80). NCA YET. AWAIT BREST NM. IN TWO PARTS ACCORDING TO FR WK RECORDS. H2216/77 21.12.81 LEAST DEPTH NOW 2.4MTRS [1FM 2FT]. (BREST NM 81 47 23).

- NM 100/82. H1310/84/13 26.4.84 DIVED ON TWICE IN 1983. BOWS IN GOOD CONDITION, COMPLETE WITH GUN AND BOX NEARBY STILL CONTAINING AMMUNITION. SMALL BRASS SPARE LANDING CRAFT PROPELLERS FOUND. (J COULON, 24.3.84). 7.3.88 WK OF 'EMPIRE BROADSWORD' IN 492523.1N, 005303W [EUR]. POSN ACCURACY 20MTRS. EXAM'D BY E/S, MAGNETOMETER & SONAR. LEAST DEPTH 2.4 IN GEN DEPTH 20MTRS. HT 17.2MTRS ABOVE SEABED. LIES IN THREE PARTS. (FR WK RECORDS 1987 NO.14590130). AMEND POSN TO 492523N, 005303W. BR STD. HH100/351/04 24.6.91 DIVED ON 27.9.90. APPARENTLY IN TWO DISTINCT PARTS. ENGINE ROOM IS BADLY BROKEN BUT FOR'D AND AFT OF THIS COMPLETE AND INTACT. LIES E/W ON STBD SIDE. LARGE GUN ON STERN AT FULL ELEVATION WITH A RACK OF LIVE, PRIMED SHELLS. RUDDER IN PLACE BUT PROPELLER MISSING. ANOTHER LARGE GUN ALSO REPORTED ON FOREDECK. LEAST DEPTH OBTAINED 7.5 IN MAX DEPTH 23MTRS [NO TIDAL REDUCTION APPLIED]. (M R ROWLEY, 8.6.91). NCA. HH100/351/07 6.8.93 DIVED 16.7.93 IN 492559N, 005321.5W [WGD] USING GPS. LEAST DEPTH 6 IN GEN DEPTH 22MTRS [UNREDUCED]. LIES, IN TWO DISTINCT PARTS, APPROX. E/W, BROKEN JUST AFT OF AMIDSHIPS. STERN LIES ON STARBOARD SIDE AND IS LARGELY INTACT WITH REMAINS OF MAST BEING HIGHEST POINT. 4" GUN IS INTACT, PREVIOUSLY REPORTED RACK OF LIVE SHELLS NOT FOUND. ARMED SHELLS LIE SCATTERED ON SEABED. BRIDGE SECTION [AMIDSHIPS] LIES INVERTED WITH MANY COMPARTMENTS INTACT. FORWARD THE BOWS ARE UPRIGHT THOUGH BREAKING UP. ONE 4" GUN AND 3 20MM AA GUNS REPD SEEN. (G PEACHAM, 24.7.93). NCA - POSN SEEMS IN DOUBT! HH100/351/13 26.2.98 LARGE WK LYING ON STBD SIDE. WINCHES IN PLACE ON FOREDECK. LARGE OPEN HOLDS WITH WIDE LADDERS. SUPERSTRUCTURE LIES ON SEABED. WRECK IS BROKEN NEAR STERN WITH A 30FT GAP BETWEEN SECTIONS. WK IN GOOD CONDITION AND DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE BREAKING UP. (P F BALL, 23.3.98). 5.3.98 WK IN 3 PIECES. STANDS 17.2MTRS ABOVE SEABED. LARGE MAGNETIC ANOMALY. (FRENCH WK RECORDS 1998, NO.14590130). 27.12.12 [WGD] POSN: 4925.332N, 0053.130W.
Comment researcher: UK Hydrographic Office

Commentaar onderzoeker: IN GOOD CONDITION, LYING ON STBD SIDE

Position: 49 25.332 N,0 53.13 W

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