Fanad Head, Northern Ireland. ‘HMS Magic’. 10 April 1918.
HMS Magic was an M Class Destroyer built by J Samuel White & Company, shipbuilders at Cowes, Ise of Wight. The M class was a class of 85 destroyers built for the Royal Navy that saw service during World War I. All ships were built to an identical with gross tonnage of 1025 tones and armament of 3 4 inch guns and torpedoes. HMS Magic was laid down in January 1915, launched 10 September 1915, and completed 8 January 1916.
In April 1918 HMS Magic was on patrol off the coast of northern Ireland in the approaches to the North Sea. She hit a mine about 2.5kms ENE off Fanad Head on the north coast of Ireland. The ship was damaged and towed into Lough Swilly. The mine had been laid by U Boat, UC31.
The Irish Sea was a rich but dangerous hunting ground for Uboats with the sea routes to Bristol, Liverpool and Glasgow offering tempting prizes. There were many engagements during both world wars. In WW1 the Uboat problem became so critical that the Navy deployed ‘Q’ Ships. These were decoy ships that looked like merchant men but had concealed armaments. The intention was to lure in Uboats to an easy target and then to spring a suprise attack.
GOOGLE MAPS Fanad Head, Northern Ireland
M Class Destroyer . HMS Marion, sister ship to HMS Magic,
B&O All Years. Sea War. ‘HMS Magic’. 10 April 1918.
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