Irish Wrecks On-Line - Saldahna HMS (No. 682)

Diving Information:

Lies off the Swilly rocks, Lough Swilly
The wreck is marked on old fathom charts as being at the South end of the bay.

Historical Information:

A fifth rate vessel, she was built by Temple & Sons of South Shields in 1809 grossing 951 tons and measured 145 x 39ft.
In the company of the sloop of war "H.M.S. Talbot", they had sailed west the previous day, but were caught in a gale. The "Saldahna" is thought to have struck the Swilly rocks.
The first indication of the loss was when 200 bodies were washed ashore at Ballymastoker Bay - there were no survivors.
The only relic of the wreck was a parrot with a silver collar inscribed "Saldahna".
Captain Packenham, brother-in-law of the Duke of Wellington, is buried at Rathmullen.
The fate of the "Talbot" is assumed to be that of the "Saldahna".
Her commander was the Hon. Captain Willam Pakenham.

H.M.S. Saldahna

© by kind permission of Jim Woods at myirelandpast web site

Source Publications:

*"Donegal Shipwrecks"*	by	Ian Wilson
		*Impact Printing 1998 - ISBN: 094815456X*
*"Shipwreck Index of Ireland"*	by	Richard & Bridget Larn
		*Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Ltd 2002 - ISBN: 1900839970*
*"Shipwrecks of the Irish Coast 1105 - 1993"*	by	Dr. Edward J. Bourke
		*Edward J. Bourke 1994 - ISBN: 0952302705*
*"Shipwrecks of the Irish Coast 1582 - 2000"*	by	Dr. Edward J. Bourke
		Edward J. Bourke 2000 - ISBN: 0952302721

Other Sources:

Royal Navy

Hydrographic Department (1970)

Last update - 05-May-2004