Cargo vessel · 1921–1940 · Argyll, United Kingdom
SS Breda
Also known as Breda.
SS Breda is a Dutch cargo vessel built in 1921 and lost in 1940; the wreck lies at 11–30 metres off Argyll, United Kingdom.
Bombed by a Luftwaffe Heinkel in the Firth of Lorn in December 1940, this Dutch cargo steamer was beached in Ardmucknish Bay — only for winter gales to drag her back into deeper water where she settled upright on the seabed. The superstructure sits between 11 and 19 metres, with the seabed at around 30. Marine growth is lush, with dahlia anemones, soft corals and shoals of pollack patrolling the companionways.
- Type
- Cargo vesselDutch
- Year built
- 1921
- Lost
- December 23rd, 1940War loss
- Depth
- 11–30 m
- Location
- Argyll, United KingdomFirth of Lorn
4 of 5 facts above are cited in Sources below.
Deeper than 88 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.
History and LossLost December 23rd, 1940 · War loss · World War II · Argyll, United Kingdom.
Bombed by a Heinkel III aircraft in the Firth of Lorn during WWII. The attack shattered internal piping. She was beached in Ardmucknish Bay, but winter storms pulled her off the beach and she sank in deeper water.
Built 1921; 19 years in service, also recorded as Breda. Lost December 23rd, 1940, war loss during World War II.
Condition of the WreckLargely intact, lying upright, in 11–30 m.
Intactness
Reasonably intact, sitting upright. Sheltered location in Ardmucknish Bay means minimal storm damage over the decades.
Notable Features
- Upright orientation
Additional Details13 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.
- Nationality
- Dutch
- Flag
- Netherlands
- Propulsion
- Steam turbine
- Loss date
- December 23rd, 1940
- Conflict / event
- World War II
- Latitude
- 56.48° N
- Longitude
- 5.42° W
- Water body
- Firth of Lorn
- War grave
- No
- Protected
- No
- Permit required
- No
- Condition
- Largely intact
- Orientation
- Upright
Sources and VerificationEvery cited fact on this page traces to a published source.
- Historic Environment Scotland (Canmore, NRHE)inspire.hes.scot · Official record10 facts
- UK Hydrographic Officedatahub.admiralty.co.uk · Official record6 facts
- Scottish Shipwrecksscottishshipwrecks.com · Secondary source8 facts
- marinetechnologynews.commarinetechnologynews.com · Secondary source6 facts
- puffin.org.ukpuffin.org.uk · Secondary source5 facts
- coast.scotcoast.scot · Secondary source4 facts
- divescotland.comdivescotland.com · Secondary source3 facts
- prima-sub-aqua.co.ukprima-sub-aqua.co.uk · Secondary source3 facts
- wildaboutargyll.co.ukwildaboutargyll.co.uk · Secondary source2 facts
- mass.cultureelerfgoed.nlmass.cultureelerfgoed.nl · Secondary source1 fact
- Divernetdivernet.com · Club or operator8 facts
- Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org · Background reading9 facts
Background reading is listed for context and is not counted as a citation for the facts above.
- Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Historic Environment Scotland.
- Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright and database right.
A further 5 fields were derived from the wreck’s recorded position rather than taken from a source.
Licences and credits for the open data used on this site are on the Attribution page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the SS Breda?
SS Breda is the wreck of a cargo vessel, off Argyll, United Kingdom, at 30 metres. SS Breda was lost in wartime in 1940.
How deep is the SS Breda?
SS Breda lies at 11 to 30 metres, Ardmucknish Bay, near Oban, Argyll.
How did the SS Breda sink?
SS Breda was lost in wartime on December 23rd, 1940 during World War II, off Argyll, United Kingdom.