Cofnod Safle

The wreck is reported to lie upside down.

The Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 makes it an offence to interfere with the wreckage of any designated vessel without a licence. Currently, there are 21 vessels protected under this Act, both in UK waters and abroad, and it is likely that the Ministry of Defence will designate more vessels in the future. For further information on this Act and its administration with regard to vessels, contact the Ministry of Defence, Wreck Section, Naval Personnel Secretariat, Room 125 Victory Building, HMNB Portsmouth, PO1 3LS

Event and Historical Information:
LCG 15 (and LCG 16 see NPRN 240005) were landing craft of 627tons, which were to be used in the invasion of Sicily. The two craft had completed fitting out at Belfast and on passage from Belfast, via Holyhead for supplies, to Falmouth. Each LCG had a naval commander and a complement of Royal Marines to operate the two 4.7in gins and twin Oerlikons, totalling 75 men for both craft. Only a partial deck had been fitted and a large open space was left behind the sealed bow ramp. This proved the undoing of the craft as the weather worsened and the two craft tried to reach Milford Haven for shelter. The Flag Officer in charge at Milford Haven sent two tugs and diverted the escort vessel HMS ROSEMARY to the scene, but both craft were swamped by heavy seas. The first to foundered was LCG 15 between Sheep Island and West Freshwater Bay with the loss of all on board. Two plaques bearing the names of the service personnel from the landing craft and from HMS ROSEMARY were unvieled at a special ceremony at Freshwater West on 25 April 2013 - 70 years after the tragedy. The ceremony was attended by representatives from the Royal British Legion and Royal Naval Association.

Sources include:
Gater, D, 1992, Historic Shipwrecks of Wales, pg103-4
Goddard, T, 1983, Pembrokeshire Shipwrecks, pg90-95
Gwynedd Archive Service Caernarfon XM/2686/4
HMSO, British Vessels Lost at Sea 1914-18 and 1939-45, pg52
Larn and Larn Shipwreck Database 2002
UK Hydrographic Office Wrecks and Obstructions Database. ? Crown Copyright and database rights. Reproduced by permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office and the UK Hydrographic Office (www.ukho.gov.uk).

WWW resources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-22266884

Maritime Officer, RCAHMW, May 2013.