North Carolina Wrecks · United States · Wreck
HMS Bedfordshire
A protected war grave in three pieces, depth charges on the sand
A British armed trawler sent to patrol this coast against U-boats and sunk with all hands by U-558 off Ocracoke in May 1942. The torpedo left almost nothing standing: three pieces of wreckage on sand in 32 m (105 ft), the highest only four feet proud, with six depth charges still lying among the debris.
Also known as HMT Bedfordshire.
Where it is and how deep
34.1670° N, 76.6830° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
The Bedfordshire is a small wreck at a serious depth: 105 feet, about 32 metres, on flat sand with 40 to 70 feet (21 metres) of visibility. The torpedo damage was extensive and the highest part of what is left stands only four feet above the bottom, so there is no silhouette to descend onto. You arrive at low, broken metal and have to read it.
The wreck is in three pieces. Two lie within 23 m (75 ft) of each other and the third is 61 m (200 ft) away, which at this depth means a decision rather than a swim: most divers work the near pair properly and only cross to the third piece with a heading and time in hand. I-beams, deck plates, pipes and pieces of machinery are scattered through the sand between them, along with six depth charges.
Large schools of amberjack and spadefish hold over the wreckage, and sea bass and grouper are typically present in the plating, which on an otherwise featureless bottom makes even this much structure worth their while. Bottom time is short, so fix your position relative to the tie-in line early and ascend on it.
This is a war grave, protected under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. The trawler went down with all hands after a torpedo hit from U-558, and divers treat the site accordingly: nothing moved, nothing taken, and the depth charges left exactly where they lie. It is worth briefing that on the boat before anyone gets in, because at 32 metres on a low, broken wreck the temptation to pick something up and look at it is real.
The wreck
- Vessel
- HMS Bedfordshire
- Type
- British armed anti-submarine trawler
- Length
- 49 m (161 ft)
- Sunk
- 1942
- Cause
- Torpedoed by the German submarine U-558
- Lies
- In three pieces on sand, one about 61 m (200 ft) from the other two, four feet of relief
The Bedfordshire was a British armed trawler under Lieutenant R. B. Davis, sent to help cover the American coast against U-boats and patrolling from Norfolk, Virginia, to Cape Lookout. On 11 May 1942, Kapitanleutnant Gunter Krech in U-558, unable to sink a freighter or tanker that patrol, took aim at the Bedfordshire and torpedoed her, sinking her instantly off Ocracoke Island with the loss of all hands. The wreck was located in 1980 and is a protected war grave.
Marine life and season
- Trevally & jacks
- Groupers
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Good | Off-season |
Season follows North Carolina Wrecks: Charter season runs roughly April-November; sand tiger shark aggregations peak in September-October, while December-February seas are too rough for most boats.
Know before you go
- Six depth charges lie among the debris. Do not touch, move or set anything down on them, and brief every diver on the boat before the dive.
- At 32 metres with only four feet of relief, the wreck is easy to lose sight of on open sand. Note your heading from the tie-in line and navigate back to it rather than searching at depth.
- The 61 m gap (200 ft) to the third section is a long swim at this depth. Only make it with a heading, a time limit and gas in reserve.
Questions divers ask
How deep is the HMS Bedfordshire wreck?+
About 105 feet, roughly 32 metres, on a sand bottom. Operators rate it intermediate, but the depth, the low relief and the scattered layout put it beyond a first deep dive.
Are there depth charges on the Bedfordshire?+
Yes, six of them lie among the I-beams, deck plates and machinery scattered on the sand. They are not to be touched or disturbed. The wreck is also a protected war grave: her whole crew was lost with the ship.
Sources
- North Carolina Dive Sites — Discovery Diving
- HMT Bedfordshire — Wikipedia
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