HMS
Strathgarry was a single deck steam trawler built in Aberdeen in 1906 by Hay
Russell & Company Ltd. She was 113 feet in length with a breadth of 21.9
feet and a draught of 11.7 feet.After the outbreak of the First World War she was requisitioned by the Royal Navy and after conversion was put to work as a boom defence vessel. To prevent incursions by U boats into the mighty Royal Navy anchorage of Scapa Flow, many of the smaller channels into the Flow were blocked by "blockships" Several of the other more major sea channels into the Flow were sealed of by booms which were strung across the channels at strategic places, suspended from floats and weighted down to a few feet above the seabed by heavy concrete weights. A way or door had to be left to allow vessels to pass and one of the functions of the boom defence vessels was to open and close a section of the boom as friendly vessels passed through, keeping a watchful eye for any U boat that might try to slip through at this vulnerable time.
HMS Strathgarry was ultimately sunk in a collision in Hoxa Sound on 6 July 1915 and was subsequently forgotten about. She was rediscovered by sport divers in the early 1990's. Her wreck now lies upright in good condition in 58 metres of crystal clear water.
The history, sinking and dive details of the Strathgarry are described in much greater detail in the book Dive Scapa Flow.