Black Sunday

U-151's path from Isabel B Wiley to Carolina

The U-151 was the first German U-boat to operate in U.S. territory in World War I. The U-151 is not actually sunk in these waters ( it was sunk deep off Virginia after the war, ) but it did "contribute" the following six shipwrecks, all on the same day, Sunday, June 2, 1918:


Shipwreck SS Carolina
Type:
shipwreck, liner, USA
Built:
1896, Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News VA USA, as La Grande Duchesse
Specs:
( 380 x 47 ft ) 5017 gross tons, 330 passengers & crew
Sunk:
Sunday June 2, 1918
shelled by U-151 - 13 casualties
Depth:
250 ft

Shipwreck Edward H. Cole
Type:
shipwreck, schooner, USA
Built:
1904, Cobb Butler & Co, Rockland ME USA
Specs:
( 228 x 43 ft ) 1791 gross tons
Sunk:
Sunday June 2, 1918
bombed by U-151 - no casualties
Depth:
185 ft

Shipwreck Isabel B. Wiley
Type:
shipwreck, schooner, USA
Built:
1901, Goss & Sawyer, Rockland Me USA
Specs:
( 226 x 43 ft ) 1778 gross tons
Sunk:
Sunday June 2, 1918
bombed by U-151 - no casualties
Depth:
200 ft


Shipwreck Texel
Type:
shipwreck, tanker, USA
Name:
Texel is the easternmost of the Frisian islands off the coast of Holland, which are similar to our own barrier islands.
Built:
1913, Denmark
Specs:
( 331 x 48 ft ) 3220 gross tons, 36 crew
Sunk:
Sunday June 2, 1918
bombed by U-151 - no casualties
Depth:
230 ft

Shipwreck Winneconne
Type:
shipwreck, freighter, USA
Name:
Named for a town in eastern Wisconsin?
Built:
1907, England, as Hogland
Specs:
( 271 x 39 ft ) 1869 gross tons
Sunk:
Sunday June 2, 1918
bombed by U-151 - no casualties
Depth:
220 ft

Thresher Shark

Alopias vulpinus

Size:
to 20 ft including tail

Habitat:
open ocean, both coastal and over very deep water, also in the Mud Hole

Notes:
not especially dangerous

This shark feeds mainly upon small fishes which it stuns with its long tail. It has relatively weak jaws and small teeth for its size and is generally not considered a threat to man unless provoked. Thresher Sharks are capable of great bursts of speed, and also commonly leap completely out of the water, for reasons unknown. The Thresher is a favorite of shark fishermen, and is very good eating if cleaned and prepared properly. It is also a common bycatch of long-line commercial fishing. The Bigeye Thresher shark is even more bizarre ( it's purple ! )