The steel steam side trawler Rayvernol was launched from the South Bank yard of Smiths Dock Co Ltd., Middlesbrough (Yard No 505) on 20th February 1912. She measured 120.0′ x 22.0′ x 11.7′ and her tonnage was 221 gross tons, 85 net tons. She was powered by a triple expansion direct acting inverted steam engine by MacColl and Pollock, Sunderland delivering 57 nominal horse power. She was ordered by Mr G H D Birt, Milford Haven. Early in 1914 she was renamed Jasper. With the outbreak of World War One she was requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to minesweeping duties (MS164).
Japser as Rayvernol alongside
On 26th August 1915 Jasper and some other Peterhead based minesweepers were operating in the Moray Firth attempting to clear some of the 360 mines laid by the German minelayer SMS Meteor. She was under the command of skipper Cleveland who had a crew of eleven men and Lieutenant Fleming RNR aboard. The minesweepers were steaming line abreast when, at 9:35am, Jasper was rocked by a huge explosion. She had hit one of Meteor’s mines. She quickly sank by the stern in clouds of steam and smoke with the loss of four of her crew. The remainder of the crew, including skipper Cleveland and Lieutenant Fleming, were picked up by the other trawlers in the minesweeping group. The four injured men were taken to hospital but thankfully all recovered.
SMS Meteor under way
The wreck of Jasper lies in position 58° 12.732′ N, 002°25.713′ W oriented 090/270 degrees. She lies in 58 metres with a least depth clearance of 54 metres. In August 2024 the wreck was dived by a team of divers from the MV Clasina supported by wreck researcher Kevin Heath and positively identified when the vessel’s maker’s plate was discovered on the wreck.
More details on the loss of the Jasper and the expedition to find and identify her can be found on the website lostinwaterdeep.co.uk
