Destroyer · 1916–1919 · Orkney, United Kingdom

V83

Also known as V-83.

When the order came to open the seacocks on 21 June 1919, British sailors boarded this torpedo boat destroyer and ran her aground before she could sink. Ernest Cox later pressed her into service during his audacious campaign to raise the battleship Hindenburg, and an unsuccessful attempt to refloat her in 1926 left her where she sits today — upright on a gentle slope, broken into two halves.

The bow section is fragmented in about eight metres; the stern sits more recognisably in 15 to 16. There is rarely any current, and the maximum depth barely troubles a single-cylinder pony bottle.

PermitRequired
Type
DestroyerGerman
Year built
1916AG Vulcan, Hamburg
Lost
around 1919Beached and abandoned
Casualties
0World War I — Scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet
Depth
5–16 m
Location
Orkney, United KingdomScapa Flow

5 of 6 facts above are cited in Sources below.

Deeper than 40 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.

History and LossLost around 1919 · Beached and abandoned · World War I — Scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet · Orkney, United Kingdom.

A torpedo boat destroyer of the VII Flotilla, V83 was boarded by the British Navy as the fleet was scuttled on 21 June 1919 and run ashore along the eastern side of Rysa Little. Ernest Cox afterwards made use of her as a work boat while he was salvaging SMS Hindenburg. In 1926 an attempt to raise her failed. She played no part in the main salvage operations and still lies where she was beached.

Built 1916 by AG Vulcan, Hamburg; 3 years in service, also recorded as V-83. Lost around 1919, beached and abandoned during World War I — Scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet.

0lives lost on around 1919.

Condition of the WreckBroken, lying upright on slope — in two parts, in 5–16 m.

Intactness

Sits upright on a slope in two parts. Bow section in 8m very broken up. Stern in 15-16m. Wreck shallows towards beach where it becomes increasingly fragmented.

Notable Features

  • Upright wreck in two parts
  • Stern section at 15-16m

Regulations and RestrictionsPermit required.

A permit is required to dive this site. Diving permit required from Orkney Islands Council Harbours department.

Additional Details15 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.

Nationality
German
Flag
German Empire
Builder
AG Vulcan, Hamburg
Propulsion
Steam turbine
Loss date
Around 1919
Conflict / event
World War I — Scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet
Coordinate confidence
Approximate
Location
East side of Rysa Little, Gutter Sound, Scapa Flow
Water body
Scapa Flow
Restrictions
Diving permit required from Orkney Islands Council Harbours department
War grave
No
Protected
No
Permit required
Yes
Condition
Broken
Orientation
Upright on slope — in two parts

Sources and VerificationEvery cited fact on this page traces to a published source.

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 6 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 V83?

V83 is the wreck of a destroyer, off Orkney, United Kingdom, at 16 metres. V83 was beached and abandoned in 1919.

How deep is the V83?

V83 lies at 5 to 16 metres, East side of Rysa Little, Gutter Sound, Scapa Flow.

How did the V83 sink?

V83 was beached and abandoned on around 1919 during World War I — Scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet, off Orkney, United Kingdom. No lives were lost.