HMS MOLDAVIA

The HMS Moldavia was the first of the P&O "M" Series passenger liners and, like her later sister-ship RMS Morea, she was named after a historic area of Europe in this case a remote principality which became a part of the present-day Romania.

The Moldavia was compulsorily purchased by the Admiralty in November 1916 but reverted to P&O ownership after this was legally contested. The ship was converted to an auxiliary armed cruiser, the conversion was completed at the Royal Albert Dock. 1 February 1916: Commenced services as HMS Moldavia armed with eight 4.7 inch guns. In March of 1918 she was dispatched to Canada and on 11th May 1918 left Halifax, Nova Scotia, as an escort to convoy HC1 bound for London. She carried both cargo and 477 men from the US Army 28th Regiment.

On 23rd May 1918 HMS Moldavia was off Beachy Head, unknown by the watch on the bridge of HMS Moldavia the UB 57 of the Flanders Flotilla commanded by Johann Los had been following for some time, Los had fired one torpedo which struck on the port bow just under the bridge the ship was badly damaged. Over fifty men from B company who were sleeping in the compartment where the explosion took place were killed instantly. HMS Moldavia continued to steam ahead for about 15 minutes before starting to sink. Captain Adrian H Smythe RN ordered the ship to be abandoned. As she was sinking, troops and crew were transferred to the escorting destroyers. 20 minutes later at about 03:50 Hrs HMS Moldavia slipped under the water. In total, 56 American soldiers on a lower deck lost their lives by the inrush of water and the torpedo impact.

Today HMS Moldavia lies on her port side, minimum depth 28m at stern Max depth 50m means that it requires careful planning. Her two guns point to surface. Much of her decking was still in place on her stern quarter, then you get a vertical drop to sand and shingle sea floor. You can still see other guns amidships in wreckage where torpedo struck. There is quite a bit more damage forward. The Bow is mostly intact. Many of Brass portholes are still in place.

This dive is a Hard Boat as its about 26 miles from Littlehampton or Brighton, for experienced divers only as slack water is only short. The visibility is very good in the summer months. Please be aware some divers have been killed on this wreck getting caught in the many fishing nets around this wreck or some overstaying their time.

Back in 1999 I wrote: With the loss of life and the men going down with the ship I would have thought it would have classified as a war grave in accordance with the 1986 Protection of Military Remains Act (PMRA.)

Then in 3rd March 2017 HMS Moldavia was added to the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986, 2017 No 147 and became a designated vessel. The wreck site is protected and may be dived on a "look but don't touch basis". Nothing may be removed from the wreck and nobody may enter the vessel, as it is now a war grave.