Dive Site Name: Chateau Yquem     Position: 50.31N 03.01W 

Type: Wreck            Tonnage: 1913     Length: 85.44m       Cargo: Ballast

Date Lost: 30/6/1917       How Lost:  Torpedoed by UB-40

Max Depth Seabed:    47m                 Depth to top of Wreck:

Minimum Qualification:     PADI Tec 50 / Technical Diver (Or Equivilent)

The Chateau Yquem was built in 1914 in Nantes, France. She was in Ballast on passage from Dunkirk to Barry when she was sunk by a Torpedo from the UB -40.

The Master was belwo having a 10 minute break of watch for his dinner when an explosion shook the stern of the vessel. The master realised that the Chateau Yquem was sinking quickly and ordered the lifeboats to be launched. 5 crew were wounded, 1 seriously. One man, a gunner, was missing presumed dead as the explosion was near the rear mounted gun. The Chateau Yquem sank within 10 minutes with all but 1 of the crew being picked up by a patrolling torpedo boat and taken to Portsmouth.

The wreck is still fairly intact although she is broken amidships. Described by divers as a "Cracking Dive!" Little aditional history is know however below is a picture of her sister ship.

As a note from some of our research and articles that we have found. THere is a note that Torpedo boat #81 swept the area looking for the submarine UB-40. However the search was hindered when the cables kept snagging on another wreck. This was noted as a Norwegian steamer sunk earlier. The only vessel that would fit this description was the Borgund 1 sunk on the same day. We believe that we may have located this vessel whilst steaming to the Isbjorn a few years ago!!