Scapa Flow divers reveal first images of HMS Vanguard wreck

● Specialists given permission by MOD to explore 100-year-old wreck

debris field. Surprisingly, given the nature of her loss, both the bow and stern are intact despite large pieces of wreckage having being thrown hundreds of metres away.

“HMS Vanguard was legally salvaged during the second half of the 20th century and much evidence ... remains.

“It is accepted that the likely cause of the disaster was an accidental magazine explosion.

“Witness accounts on the night of her loss describe a large explosion immediate- ly behind the bridge. We can reveal that our initial survey result supports this.”

The survey team is made up of a team of specialists who explored HMS Hampshire in June 2016.

A full sonar survey of the wreck site has now been completed with the help of Kevin Heath of Sula Diving, which provides an insight into the ship’s history after a century spent underwater.

A report will now be compiled for the MOD, Historic Environment Scotland, Orkney Marine Services and other interested organisations.

Scapa Flow is popular with divers because of the number of wrecks hidden beneath its waters. It was the main anchorage of the Royal Navy and is home to many relics from British naval history.

In June 1919 the interned German navy scuttled most of its high seas fleet there to prevent ships from falling into Allied hands. Eight of the vessels remain at the site. 2 Divers investigate the remains of warship HMS Vanguard in Scapa Flow. They said both the bow and stern are intact despite wreckage being thrown hundreds of metres away