Friedrich Bolte

22 October 1910     57 22.433N  01 40.283W     63 in 66 metres

Built:  1906 by Ardrossan Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Ardrossan, Yard No 207

Construction:  steel, 241 grt, length 130 ft (39.6m), beam 22.6 ft (6.9m), draught 13.5 ft (4.1m)

Propulsion:  triple expansion, one boiler, machinery by Renfrew Bros. & Co Ltd, Irvine

Registered: Bremerhaven, Germany (BX95)

Built as the Brookfield (FD76) for Deep Sea Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood, she was sold to Deutsche Hochsee Fisherei (J.A. Steenken) of Bremerhaven in March 1910 and renamed Friedrich Bolte. Having left Aberdeen for her fishing grounds on the 22nd October 1910, the Friedrich Bolte foundered six miles south-east of the Cruden Scares.  All her crew were rescued by the Aberdeen trawler Ben Attow.

In July 2008 when searching for the U-1206 we found a wreck near local fishermen's marks for the 'Cruizer'.  On the Humminbird side-scanning echo-sounder the trace was long and thin, just what we'd expect a submarine to look like.  We dived the site  on the 13th July and instead found another steam trawler. Examination of known losses and finds of steam trawlers in the area indicate that the most probable identity of the wreck is the Friedrich Bolte, however nothing material has been discovered to confirm this.

The Friedrich Bolte lies in 66 metres at 57 22.433N  01 40.283W orientated 030/210 degrees with the bow south-west and stern north-east.  The wreck is upright and intact, although the superstructure has now gone.