HMS/m A1, Bracklesham Bay - Designated Site Assessment

Wessex Archaeology

Wessex Archaeology was commissioned to undertake a Designated Site Assessment of the HMS/m A1 site: a designated wreck located in Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex.

Wessex Archaeology diving operations took place in September and October 2005. A total of 11 dives were conducted, achieving a total dive time of 680 minutes. Diving investigations concentrated on an assessment of the wreck itself, supported by a photographic and video survey. A measured plan of the remains was produced. Two anomalies close to the site were also investigated, with one proving to be a corroded metal buoy and the other being a metal object of unknown function but not considered to be a part of the vessel.

The hull structure was observed to be in and relatively good condition, despite areas of corrosion pitting along the outer casing on the top of the wreck. However, several years of systematic illegal diver recovery of artefacts from both outside and inside the wreck has had a serious and irreversible impact on the wreck.

As a direct result of this illegal diving activity practically all the removable fixtures and fittings from both the exterior and interior of the vessel have been removed. To gain access to the interior the two torpedo loading hatches have been ripped off the wreck, and are now missing. This has exposed the interior to increased corrosion and erosion processes that the wreck would not otherwise have suffered if it had been allowed to remain closed up.