HMS Invincible was the world's first battlecruiser.
Follow the link at the bottom of the page
for a history of the design, and of the ship
herself.
Invincible blew up at the battle of Jutland,
sinking in 177 feet of water at Latitude
57d 02' 40" North and Longitude 6d 07'
15" East. The Royal Navy first located
the wreck in 1919, and her position was used
as a basis for the Harper Report on the battle.
Reports that the two sections of the ship
are separated by a large debris field are
not correct. The two halves of the wreck
lie side by side, with the stern section
upright. The bow is inverted, pointing nearly
due Eastand the center of the ship is completely
devistated. The propellers have been removed
at some point by salvagers. Y turret is trained
to the starboard beam, with the roof blown
off. A look inside the turret reveals the
guns, with their breaches closed, ready to
fire.
The wreck is in pretty bad shape, even considering
the way that the ship was lost. It is collapsing
in on itself, at a rate of over a foot a
year. The bottom is sand, and the water is
clear but brutally cold, even in summer.
The HMS Invincible.
The main guns of "Y" turret, on
the upright stern section
A gun from Invincible's "Y" turret,
which is missing its roof..
A closer look at the breach end.
The fire control table from "Y"
turret.
CLICK HERE FOR A HISTORY OF THE HMS INVINCIBLE
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