Warship HMS Hawke discovered off the Aberdeenshire coast

The BBC Scotland station reported the discovery of the wreck of the British warship HMS Hawke, which was sunk by a German U-boat during World War I.

The wreck of HMS Hawke was located on August 12. It rests at a depth of approximately 360 feet off the coast of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Divers from the group Lost in Waters Deep are credited with the discovery.

HMS Hawke participated in battles during World War I. In October 1914, it was attacked by the German U-boat U-9. As a result of the hit, HMS Hawke caught fire and, after an explosion, sank to the bottom. The British lost over 500 crew members that day.

According to the divers' reports, the wreck of HMS Hawke is in "remarkable" condition. During preliminary inspections, they noticed items such as cups and plates, as well as remnants of weapons and navigational equipment.

“You can look into the portholes and see rooms with artifacts - teacups, bowls, and plates just there on the floor. It took years of research, but the actual time on the ground was just a few hours,” diver Steve Mortimer told BBC Scotland.

According to BBC Scotland, the Royal Navy is expected to formally identify the findings shortly.

HMS Hawke was classified as an Edgar-class armored cruiser. It measured 387 feet in length and almost 66 feet in width, with a draft exceeding 23 feet. It could reach speeds of up to 20 knots.

Its main armament consisted of two 9.2-inch guns and ten 6-inch guns. Additionally, it was equipped with 2.24-inch and 1.85-inch guns and four 17.7-inch torpedo tubes. During World War I, HMS Hawke was part of the 10th Cruiser Squadron.