Also known as: KMS F2
The F2 never fired a shot at Scapa Flow, but she sank there all the same — dragged under by a winter storm on 30 December 1946, more than a year after the war she was built to fight had ended. A Geleiteboot escort boat, she was one of ten experimental vessels fitted with temperamental high-pressure Brown-Boveri turbines that gave her 28 knots but a reputation for mechanical misery. Lengthened by four metres in 1938 and repurposed as a torpedo recovery vessel, she surrendered to the Royal Navy in 1945 and was towed north to Scapa. Her stern now sits upright in 16 to 18 metres, with the forward section listing on its side — a compact, navigable wreck linked by a 30-metre line to the salvage barge YC21 that sank nearby in 1968 while attempting to scrap her. A 20mm gun from the F2 ended up on the barge, a small absurdity that divers can verify for themselves. At barely 18 metres, she is an ideal second dive or warm-up before the deeper German fleet wrecks.
Geleiteboot (escort boat), second of a class of ten. Originally 75.9m, lengthened by 4m to 80m and converted to torpedo recovery vessel at Wilhelmshaven 1938-39. Armament: 2 x 105mm deck guns, 4 x 20mm AA. 28 knots (reduced to 26 after lengthening). Complement 121. Surrendered to Royal Navy 1945. Arrived Scapa Flow February 1946. Sank at moorings in Gutter Sound during storm 30 December 1946. Sold for scrap to Metrec Engineering 1967-68.
F2 is a warship wreck located off Orkney, United Kingdom at a depth of 18 metres. The vessel was lost due to storm damage — sank at moorings in 1946. The wreck is diveable.
F2 lies at 16 to 18 metres depth, Gutter Sound, Scapa Flow.
F2 was lost due to storm damage — sank at moorings on 30 December 1946, off Orkney, United Kingdom.
Diving the F2 is rated beginner and is suitable for newly certified Open Water divers. Minimum certification: Open Water. Recommended: Open Water + Drysuit.
The best months to dive F2 are May, June, July, August, September. Water temperature ranges from 6°C in winter to 14°C in summer.
F2 is accessed by boat from Stromness, Orkney, United Kingdom. A dive permit is required.
| Month | Temp | Visibility | Access | Marine life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6.0°C | 5.0m | poor | Low — winter conditions |
| Feb | 6.5°C | 5.0m | poor | Low — winter conditions |
| Mar | 7.0°C | 6.0m | poor | Low — winter conditions |
| Apr | 8.0°C | 8.0m | marginal | Moderate — season starting; seals present |
| May | 9.5°C | 10.0m | good | Moderate — seals, wrasse, lobster, soft corals |
| Jun | 11.0°C | 14.0m | good | High — seals, jellyfish, lobster, wrasse, soft corals, pollock shoals |
| Jul | 12.5°C | 18.0m | good | High — seals, jellyfish, lobster, wrasse, soft corals, pollock shoals |
| Aug | 14.0°C | 18.0m | good | High — seals, jellyfish, lobster, wrasse, soft corals, pollock shoals |
| Sep | 13.0°C | 14.0m | good | Good — seals, lobster, wrasse, soft corals |
| Oct | 11.0°C | 9.0m | marginal | Good — seals, lobster, wrasse, soft corals |
| Nov | 8.5°C | 6.0m | poor | Low — winter conditions |
| Dec | 7.0°C | 5.0m | poor | Low — winter conditions |
3 evidence records from 3 sources.
Geleiteboot, second of class of ten. Built Germaniawerft Kiel 1936. Lengthened 4m 1938-39. Surrendered 1945. Sank Gutter Sound 30 Dec 1946 in storm.
Stern upright, forward on its side. Connected to YC21 barge by 30m line. 20mm gun on barge. Gun, mast, anchor cable features.
KMS F2 escort boat / torpedo recovery vessel. Gutter Sound, Scapa Flow. 790 tonnes displacement.