2024-03-29T15:31:52+00:00https://marinefinds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/jsonhttps://marinefinds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/xmlhttps://marinefinds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/rsshttps://marinefinds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/atomhttps://marinefinds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/kmlhttps://marinefinds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/geojsonhttps://marinefinds.org.uk/database/search/results/format/qrcodehttps://marinefinds.org.uk/database/search/results13110finds-172172MAS-F100172AIRCRAFT COMPONENTMODERNRolls Royce Merlin 45 gear unit, serial number GU 69 677, with a truncated, heavily damaged and corroded, three bladed propeller. All three propeller blades have survived despite heavy corrosion, though the end of one is missing. The wiring in the propeller cam shaft is visible since the outer dome casing has partially disintegrated. The Merlin 45 engine was used in the Mk. V Supermarine Spitfire fighters, in Reconnaissance Spitfires (PR Mk. IG & P MK. IV), and early versions of the naval version the Supermarine Seafire Mk. IB and Mk. IIC). The Merlin 45 saw active service from early 1941 as squadrons were equipped with the new Mk. V Spitfires.
Consultation with Boscombe Down Aviation Collection has suggested that this aircraft likely landed on the water, rather than crashed directly, as the damage to the propellor blades is minimal. Given that the nose of an aircraft is most likely where the initial impact of a crash would occur this would appear a more than probable conclusion. Additionally, following cleaning and initial preservation steps, it was noted that there are two circular scollops in the edge of one of the propellor blades (see image 13 of 13). Boscombe Down Aviation Collection suggest that these are of a diametre closely matching that of cannon shells that may have been fired at the Spitfire from a German aircraft such as a Messerschmitt BF 109E. This evidence suggests that the aircraft, to which this Gear unit belonged, was in combat shortly before its loss. The damaged sustained likely caused the engine to fail, causing the pilot to belly land the aircraft on the sea. It is to be hoped that he successfully exited the aircraft and was rescued following these events. Efforts to identify the exact aircraft from which this gear unit originated are being contiued by Boscombe Down AC.The Mk. V Spitfires were initially developed in late 1940 as a high altitude interceptor and were essentially remodelled Mk I & Mk II spitfires with a new engine, later Mk V's were purpose built airframes.
The PR Mk. IG (Armed) & P MK. IV (Unarmed) Spitfires were variants created to fulfil the role of photo- reconnaissance of enemy held territory. On some variants the planes had all their armament removed and often replaced with additional fuel tanks to increase their operational range. Their speed, small size and high operational ceiling allowed them to either remain undetected or avoid enemy aircraft. This role had previously been performed by light bombers, such as the Bristol Blenheim, or purpose built reconnaissance aircraft, such as the Westland Lysander. They are both relatively slow aircraft and the Lysander had no armament what so ever, as a result early war losses were high and an alternative solution was sought.
The Seafire was a naval version of the Spitfire, adapted for use on aircraft carriers, the first batch of which came into service in late 1941. The earlier variants being used for training to acquaint Fleet Air Arm pilots with the Spitfire air frame and using it on aircraft carriers. vehicle41411059/183MAS2018-04-27T00:00:00Zaircraft engineWith Boscombe Down Aviation Collection2018-04-27T09:07:05Z2020-03-27T15:30:26Z172124512414PAS5C5037EF001C032MAS MASMASSteel11786OtherIncompleteCorrodedMODERNMODERNFishing172_i0000010.jpg418images/MASPhil Trim2020-03-27T15:30:26.261Zfinds-150150MAS-D100150LIDMODERNOne copper item, thought to be a lid by discoverer. It is around 180 mm in diameter with greenish brown discolouration from the oxidising of the copper. At its centre there is a raised disc that has been possibly beaten out of the original shape. This circular embossed disc is approximately 90 mm in diameter and has a small circular aperture in its centre (roughly 10 mm diameter). Other than a lid, the item could be a lamp shade of some sort or a hub of some wheeled apparatus.This items was found with two bowls (MAS-D100127), one brass hinge (MAS-D100128), one brown bottle and one clear bottle (MAS-D100129) and one ceramic mug a (MAS-D100130).UNASSIGNED3941312/173MAS2017-09-30T00:00:00ZDOMED LID2017-10-09T15:46:29Z2020-03-27T15:26:58Z1501801533415PAS5C50379B001E6C2MAS MASMASCopper10626UncertainCorrodedNINETEENTH CENTURYMODERNDiving150_copperlid.JPG759images/MASRobbie Trevelyan2020-03-27T15:26:58.894Zfinds-220220MAS-D100220VALVEMODERNTwo small brass valves and one small double valve. The first item has three conections, with two sections of thinner pipe (10 mm diameter approx) still attached perpendicular to threaded fixing, and both twisted. The thicker pipe (38 mm approx) runs parallel and opposite to threaded fixing. In all cases the rest of the pipes have sheared off. The second valve is similar in characteristics to the first, with three connections and a threaded fixing. This valve is slightly smaller and less encrusted, and only one section of thin (10 mm approx) pipe attached perpendicular to threaded fixing. Both valves have quite spherical central sections. Third valve is a double valve, with only one connection perpendicular to threaded fixing and wider second connnection (100 mm approx) opposite and parallel to threaded fixing. This item is heavily encrusted so unsure as to accuracy of interpretation. Both are heavily corroded and in poor condition.These items were recovered from the wreck SS Blanefield. Built in 1898 in Sunderland by the Short Brothers Ltd, the SS Blanefield was a screw driven steamship of 3,411 tons, a cargo carrying coaster. She sank following a collision in broad daylight with the four masted barque Kate Thomas on 1st May 1906 approximately 4 miles from Beachy Head, East Sussex. At the time the SS Blanefield was en route from Junin to Dover carrying a cargo of railway sleepers and lines. The vessel sank in under four minutes with most of the crew being rescued with 21 of the crew of 28 surviving the incident. The Kate Thomas was taken to Southampton under tow on the following day. NRHE and East Sussex HER reference numbers cited in this record refer to the wreck of SS Blanefield.Transport41411301/183MAS2018-09-02T00:00:00ZVessel component911487East Sussex HER: TV 58 NE 56With finder2018-09-21T08:53:56Z2020-03-26T11:48:55Z22037725315PAS5C50379B001E6C22625East SussexTV588850.670230920.2345585footballs.criminalist.wildflower10MAS MASMASCopper alloy10627Copper alloy10627FabricatedIncompletePoorMODERNMODERNDiving220_IMG_8682.JPG573images/MASRobbie Trevelyan2020-03-26T11:48:55.212Zfinds-219219MAS-D100219VALVEMODERNOne small brass expansion valve. It is wheel operated from two opposite ends, roughly 260 mm apart. Approximately 50 mm in from each wheel there is a piped connection with the pipes roughly 25 mm diameter and both kinking into a right angle. Between the two wheels and the pipe connection, at the centre of the expansion valve, is a large metal boss, possibly where the two ends were fixed together. Item is heavily corroded and in poor condition.This item was recovered from the wreck SS Clara (1906). Little is known or certain regarding this vessel due to confusion with another vessel of the same name that was torpedoed off the coast of Cornwall in 1917. The 1906 sinking, of a vessel known as the SS Clara, occurred following a collision near the Royal Sovereign Light Tower in June of that year. She had been en route from Brest to Dunkirk when she collided with the SS Irisbrook. Following the collision the SS Clara was taken in tow but soon abandoned as her decks became awash and she started to list, before eventually sinking. Divers have previously recovered spoons marked with the name Clara and the shipping line Burdick & Cook from the wreck confirming her identity. The remains of a vessel known as SS Irisbrook can be found to the east of the SS Clara, which itself sank following a collision in 1911, this may represent the remains of the same vessel which collided with the SS Clara in 1906.Transport414119061300/183MAS2018-08-30T00:00:00ZVessel componentWith finder2018-09-21T08:49:54Z2020-03-26T11:48:39Z2193001725315PAS5C50379B001E6C22625East SussexTV698650.649174330.38917197dalmatian.stretched.barons10MAS MASMASCopper alloy10627FabricatedIncompletePoorMODERNMODERNDiving219_IMG_8685.JPG572images/MASRobbie Trevelyan2020-03-26T11:48:39.94Zfinds-3131MAS-O100031TIMBERMODERNPossible ships timber or part of other marine or land based structure. Truncated rounded timber with hole and evidence of mounting plate for furniture, broken or rotted off at one end exposing heart wood and a knot in the wood. Approximately 2000 mm long and 600 mm in diameter. The undamaged half of the timber appears in good condition, implying a more recent date for the timber, whereas the other part appears to have suffered extensive degradation. The arrangement of damage to the timber suggests it may have been partially submerged during its useful life, possibly as part of a shore based instalment such as a jetty or quay.Timber29413MAS2017-03-09T00:00:00ZUnclassified worked timber2017-03-09T16:32:49Z2020-02-21T11:57:28Z316002000114235PAS5C5037EF001C03217765HampshireSZ699850.77748385-1.0227273minute.catch.muddy10MAS MASMASWood11988IncompletePoorMEDIEVALx14221MODERNCoastal walkingIMG_2450.JPG92images/MASPhil Trim2020-02-21T11:57:28.321Zfinds-221221MAS-D100221VALVEMODERNOne brass stopper and one brass valve. The valve has spherical central body, with three different piped connections conjoining at right angles, each indentical in style; circular and 30 mm long, with a 180 mm approximate diameter. It is wheel-operated, with the wheel shaft thinner than the piped connections at 25 mm, before expanding to a larger shaft with diameter of 65 mm. The condition of the valve is heavily corroded and encrusted with metal growths. The stopper is in a similar condition, although one nut and bolt at its centre appears to be in fair condition.This item was found with 11 hamilton bottles (MAS-D100222), four ink bottles (MAS-D100223), a copper saucepan (MAS-D100224) and two glass fruit storage bottles (MAS-D100225).
All of these items were recovered from the wreck of SS Strathclyde, a British trading steamship built in 1871 in Blackwood, Port Glasgow. The ship sank in 1876 off Dover whilst carrying 23 passengers and 47 crew for Bombay, following a collision with Franconia and resulting in the loss of 38 lives.
NRHE and Kent HER reference numbers cited in this record refer to the wreck of SS Strathclyde.
The location of SS Strathclyde was taken from the British National Grid co-ordinate from the National Record of the Historic Environment.Transport4141302/183MAS2018-09-17T00:00:00ZVessel component813607Kent HER Number: TR 33 NW 23With finder2018-09-21T09:36:49Z2020-02-19T13:15:27Z2212202901745515PAS5C50379B001E6C218210KentTR343851.093539951.34042371fatigue.paddles.woodland10MAS MASMASCopper alloy10627FabricatedCompleteEncrustedMODERNMODERNDiving221_IMG_8756Large.JPG579images/MASRobbie Trevelyan2020-02-19T13:15:27.309Zfinds-103103MAS-F100103BOTTLEMODERNThis flat-based Hamilton, or 'torpedo' bottle stands 240 mm high, with a 64-mm wide base and is approximately 90 mm wide at the waist. It has a 'bottle logo' embossed on its base. There are possibly other text/numerals that have since worn away. The bottle shows moulding scars on the base and sides. It has a crown top finish.
The egg-shaped bottle was first patented by William Francis Hamilton in 1814, the idea being that the bottle had to be stored on its side to keep the cork wet and ensuring a good seal on the reusable bottle. In around 1870, the flat based egg or Hamilton bottle was introduced. Following the 'blob top' finish being replaced by the crown top and cork sometime after 1892, when this cap design was patented, the design became more popular. This was because the bottles could now be reliably stored upright without cork shrinkage and a leaky seal causing loss of the carbonated gas. This is recognisable on this bottle by the beaded rim that the metal cap fitted over. These are also generally c.25mm in diameter. The cap would have been metal with a cork lining. This, however, lead to the decline in the popularity of torpedo bottles as it made them no longer necessary (Lucas, 2010).
The mould scar travels up the neck to the lip of the bottle and this would suggest that it was manufactured around 1910 on a semi or fully automated bottle making machine, near to the end of their popularity. The 'bottle logo' on the base is probably the manufactures logo, however, several manufacturers used the same logo as their mark and therefore it has not now been possible to isolate its exact point of manufacture. The bottles were extensively exported from the U.K. and are therefore found around the world, but particularly in the former colonies and North America.BOTTLE41413MAS2017-08-23T00:00:00ZFood and liquid storage containerWith finder2017-08-23T08:15:00Z2018-05-23T14:00:10Z24010390118284911422625East SussexTQ440050.781702980.04126088pastels.dash.stockpile10MAS MASMASGlass10879MouldedCompleteFairMODERNMODERNFishingSubmitted as wreck to the Receiver of WreckFIPAD_2017081795.JPG241images/MAS2018-05-23T13:00:10.772Zfinds-111111MAS-F100111AIRCRAFT COMPONENTMODERNAluminium aircraft section, heavily corroded and damaged. No identifying marks or plates visible, though two cross member plate remnants present. 870 x 45mm.
The lack of identifying marks means that the type and origin of the aircraft cannot be definitively identified from this recovered section. Initially thought to be part of a piston engine support frame from something like a Spitfire fighter, a Dakota transport aircraft, or perhaps one of the multi-engined bombers,this theory was discarded as these are generally circular in section. The double row of rivet holes down one side (presumably where it attached to the skin) suggest it is more likely a stringer of some description. A stringer is a Longitudinal member (i.e. in the fuselage aligned with the longitudinal axis and in wings and tail surfaces perpendicular to this axis) which gives the airframe its shape and provides the support for the skin. In fuselages, they link frames and in aerofoils they link ribs. The consensus therefore, is that it is from the outer wing rib of a single engine aeroplane or the fin/tail plane rib of a larger multi engine aircraft from the Second World War; and has characteristics that suggest it is from a Royal Air Force or British aircraft. However, due to the corrosion and the very close variations in measurement between both metric and imperial measurements, i.e. millimetres (mm), standard wire gauge (swg) or thousands of an inch (thou), used by aircraft designers during this period, the use of the spacing and diameter of rivets, bolt holes and other spacings combined with any drilling/stamping errors means that these do not help in identifying the piece. The damage to the piece also means that the use of rivet pitch, which might identify the manufacturer, rather than the country of origin, would be open to a wide degree of error.TRANSPORT41411218/173MAS2017-08-23T00:00:00ZVehicle componentWith finder2017-08-23T08:47:41Z2018-05-23T13:59:19Z111458701272811422625East SussexTQ440050.781702980.04126088pastels.dash.stockpile10MAS MASMASWhite metal11967FragmentMODERNMODERNFishingSubmitted as wreck to the Receiver of WreckFIPAD_201708174.JPG288images/MAS2018-05-23T12:59:19.121Zfinds-104104MAS-F100104SHELL CASESMODERNThe shell case measures 660 mm long and is 152 mm in diameter at the base, and 116 mm in diameter at the neck though this has been buckled and stretched. The shell case appears to have been either constructed without a base, or it has been removed at some point in the past. The diameter of the neck and its overall size point to it being a 4.5-inch or possibly a 4.7-inch shell case. Without the base with the details of type, manufacturer and date of manufacture, the history and origin of this case is not clear. It would have been part of a fixed round, i.e. the shell was attached to the shell case like a large rifle round. The maximum weight of these rounds was around 36 kg (80 lbs), which was the weight considered to be sustainable for loading manually loaded fixed ammunition. The 4.5-inch gun has been the standard medium-gun calibre of the Royal Navy for use against surface, aircraft and shore targets since 1938, and in the case of the 4.7-inch gun since 1916.
The history of this shell case is unknown, however, based on the damage it has sustained and the degree of corrosion, it appears that the shell was pried out of it and the base cut off with a lathe at some point in the past, before the remainder was lost or discarded. ARMOUR AND WEAPONS41411221/173MAS2017-08-23T00:00:00ZAMMUNITIONWith finder2017-08-23T08:19:22Z2018-05-08T08:41:12Z104152660150282114PAS57C96ECD001E82PAS59C90C510011A322625East SussexTQ440050.781702980.04126088pastels.dash.stockpile10MAS MASMASYellow metalIncompleteFairMODERNMODERNFishingSubmitted as wreck to the Receiver of WreckFIPAD_2017081783.JPG246images/MASABB2018-05-08T07:41:12.137Zfinds-108108MAS-F100108PORTHOLEMODERNThis object is the remains of a brass porthole ring measuring 250 mm across with a brass rim 28 mm wide. It is thought that this frame would have been on the outside of the hull of the vessel while an internal frame on the inside of the vessel would have contained the glass element and a hinged deadlight (a metal plate that was both a curtain and a reinforcement against heavy seas).
Portholes have been used for centuries to allow light and ventilation to enter the lower, darker levels of vessels and in some early cases, as a means of seeing out of a submersible. Portholes are watertight and are generally crafted from glass, secured within a metal frame that is then bolted to the vessel. The popular metals that are used to create the frame of the portholes are bronze and brass because these metals corrode less in saltwater.Fixtures and Fittings41411225/173MAS2017-08-23T00:00:00ZPortholeWith finder2017-08-23T08:38:12Z2018-05-08T08:40:10Z10825032815028214PAS57C96ECD001E82PAS5A27DDB80016AC22625East SussexTQ440050.781702980.04126088pastels.dash.stockpile10MAS MASMASYellow metalIncompleteMODERNMODERNFishingSubmitted as wreck to the Receiver of WreckFIPAD_2017081732.JPG272images/MASABB2018-05-08T07:40:10.128Z