The wreck of the ROTULA lies in 142m of water in two pieces, 175m apart. The bow section is to the north, orientated 000/180, bow to the south, and measuring 47m in length. The stern section is to the south, orientated 045/225, stern towards 225 degrees, and measuring 95m in length. The total length of the wreckage is c. 142m long by c. 18m wide (McCartney, 2022: 176).

The wreck was originally identified by the UKHO as the LANDONIA (NPRN 516159). Research by Dr Innes McCartney (2022: 176) for the Echoes from the Deep project, following a detailed survey by Bangor University in May 2019, identified the wreck as being dimensionally, positionally, and archivally consistent with the loss of the ROTULA. The record has been updated to reflect that new research.

Event and Historical Information:
The ROTULA was a 7981ton tanker of Dutch registry. Technical and configurations specifications 7981 tons; 146.6m length (461ft) x 18.10m (59ft) x 10.1m (33ft) breadth; steam-powered. The tanker was inbound from Halifax carrying 10,700 tons of aviation spirit when it was bombed, caught fire, and sunk by aircraft on 3 March 1941. The wreck sank stern first and hit the bottom while the bow was still above water, continuing to blaze, before being finally sunk by gunfire from HMT ARMANA.

Sources include:

McCartney, I., 2022. Echoes from the Deep. Leiden: Sidestone Press. https://www.sidestone.com/books/echoes-from-the-deep

UKHO ID 9925: Contains public sector information, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0, from UK Hydrographic Office.

J. Whitewright, RCAHMW, November 2023.

Site Record

Rotula (UKHO 9925)