New Jersey Scuba Diving

Type:

artificial reef, minesweeper, US Navy, later converted to purse seiner

Built:

1944, Tampa FL USA as AM-215 Cruise

Specs:

( 184 x 33 ft ) 650 tons

Sunk:

Monday, Dec 10, 2007 - DelJerseyLand Artificial Reef

GPS:

38°30.910' -74°30.597'

Depth:

120 ft

The Gregory Poole was built by the Tampa Shipbuilding Co. of Tampa, Fl. and launched March 1943 as an Admiral-class minesweeper by the Charleston Navy Yard of Charleston, S.C. Commissioned in September 1945 as the USS Cruise (AM-215), the vessel never saw action in World War II, as it was in route to Pearl Harbor when the war ended. The ship returned to Philadelphia and was decommissioned in September 1946. The vessel was sold to Beaufort Fisheries in Beaufort, N.C., renamed the Gregory Poole, and served as a menhaden harvesting ship from 1974-2005. During the 1990-91 fishing season, the Gregory Poole set a national single vessel catch record, landing almost 93 million menhaden. Beaufort Fisheries closed their business in 2005, and the ship was sold to Dominion Marine Group.

The Admirable-class was the largest and one of the most successful classes of minesweepers the United States Navy ordered during World War II. Typically, the minesweeper detected and removed naval mines before the rest of the fleet arrived, thereby ensuring safe passage for the larger ships. They were also charged with anti-submarine warfare (ASW) duties with rear-mounted depth charge racks and a forward-firing Hedgehog antisubmarine mortar. Their job was essential to the safety and success of U.S. naval operations during World War II and the Korean War. These minesweepers were also employed as patrol vessels and convoy escorts.

Prior to deployment to Delaware, the Gregory Poole was cleaned by Dominion Marine Group, Norfolk, Va., to remove all greases and buoyant materials that might be harmful to the marine environment. The U.S. Coast Guard inspected and approved the ship prior to transport to the reef site.

The vessel was prepared for sinking by cutting holes above the waterline and installing soft patches in these holes. After the ship arrived and anchored at the site, the soft patches were removed and pumps were used to initiate flooding of the interior spaces. Water poured into the cut holes and accelerated the sinking process. Differential global positioning system (DGPS) was used to accurately place the vessel on the site.