On 3 February 1940 HMS Sphinx (Cdr. John Robert Newton Taylor, RN) was sweeping an area about 15 nautical miles miles north of Kinnairds Head (near Fraserburgh) in position 57º57'N, 02º00'W when attacked by enemy aircraft. A bomb pierced the fo'c'sle deck and exploding destroying the fore part of the ship. She remained afloat and was taken in tow by HMS Halcyon but steadily flooded and capsized and sank. The wreck was later washed ashore north of Lybster and was sold for scrap. The Commanding Officer and forty of the men were killed in the explosion.

Commanding Officer:
Cdr. John Robert Newton Taylor, RN
28 July 1939 - 3 February 1940+