Warships (1/3)

A number of small warships are sunk in New Jersey and New York waters.

subchaser (model)

A subchaser was a small coastal patrol vessel of World War I or II. Subchasers were lightly armed and even more lightly constructed, mostly out of plywood, powered by two diesel (WWII) or three gasoline (WWI) engines. Roughly the same design was used in both wars - 110 ft long, about 100 tons. Almost a thousand were built over both World Wars, and several are lost in the waters around this area. Many private yachts and some larger fishing trawlers were converted to perform this function also, like the Tarantula and the Moonstone. Conversely, some subchasers were converted to other duties after the war, such as the Bronx Queen, pictured below in military trim. Real subchasers were designated SC-, while converted yachts were designated SP-, PY- ( patrol yacht ) or PYc ( patrol yacht - coastal. )

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Shipwreck Bronx Queen
Type:
shipwreck, submarine chaser, later party boat, USA
Built:
1942, Camden NJ USA, as SC-635
Specs:
( 112 x 18 ft ) 99 gross tons, 19 crew, including passengers
Sunk:
Saturday December 20, 1989
foundered after structural failure of aft hull caused by improper modifications - 2 casualties
Depth:
35 ft

Captain Henry reef
"Captain Henry" - the bow ramp appears to have been welded up
Type:
artificial reef, LCM-6 (Landing Craft-Mechanized) used as buoy tender
Built:
1943 New Orleans LA USA
Specs:
( 56 x 14 ft ) 64 tons
Sponsor:
Bureau of Coastal Engineering, Fish America &
Cape May County Party & Charter Boat Association
Sunk:
Sunday May 6, 1990 - Cape May Artificial Reef
GPS:
38°51.200' -74°42.280'

Shipwreck Great Isaac
Type:
shipwreck, tugboat, U.S. War Shipping Administration (Navy)
Name:
All the ships of this class were named for lighthouses in the U.S., except for the Great Isaac, which is in the Bahamas.
Built:
1944, Boston MA USA
Specs:
( 185 x 37 ft ) 1117 gross tons, 27 crew
Sunk:
Wednesday April 16, 1947
collision with Norwegian freighter Bandeirante - no casualties
Depth:
90 ft

HMS Culloden
Type:
shipwreck, frigate, British Royal Navy
Name:
The Battle of Culloden, where in 1745 the English army massacred the last of the Scottish resistance ( and much of the civilian population ), completing the English conquest of Scotland.
Built:
1776, England
Specs:
( 170 x 47 ft ) 1658 gross tons, 650 crew
Sunk:
Monday January 24, 1781
ran aground in storm - no casualties
Depth:
20 ft

Type:
shipwreck, frigate ( Mermaid-class, 6th-rate ), British Royal Navy
Name:
Hussars were light cavalry units of the period, known for their colorful and showy uniforms.
Built:
1763, England
Specs:
( 124 x 33 ft ) 627 gross tons
Sunk:
Thursday November 23, 1780
struck a rock - unknown casualties, including prisoners
Depth:
probably buried in the landfill under the police station near 135th Street

Shipwreck Pentland Firth
Type:
shipwreck, trawler, Royal Navy
Name:
Pentland Firth is the channel between the northern tip of Scotland and the Islands that form Scapa Flow, the great British naval base, and today one of the best wreck diving locales in the world.
Built:
1934, England
Specs:
( 164 x 27 ft ) 485 gross tons
Sunk:
Saturday September 19, 1942
collision with minesweeper trawler USS Chaffinch (400 tons) - ? casualties
GPS:
40°25.433' -73°52.204' (AWOIS 1991)
Depth:
70 ft


Peggy Diana reef
Peggy Diana is the landing craft, not the tugboat.
Type:
artificial reef, LCM-6 (Landing Craft-Mechanized, see "Captain Henry")
Specs:
( 56 x 14 ft ) 64 tons
Sponsor:
Army Transportation Corps
Sunk:
Saturday November 14, 1987 - Cape May Artificial Reef
GPS:
38°50.830' -74°42.510'

Shipwreck R.C. Mohawk
Not to be confused with the S.S. Mohawk or the other S.S. Mohawk.
Type:
shipwreck, revenue cutter, U.S. Revenue Service, on loan to U.S. Navy
Name:
A tribe of Iroquoian Indians of the eastern New York area.
Built:
1902, Richmond VA USA
Specs:
( 206 x 32 ft ) 980 gross tons, 77 crew
Sunk:
Monday October 1, 1917
collision with tanker Vennachar - no casualties
GPS:
40°25.025' -73°45.158' (AWOIS 2010)
Depth:
100 ft


Warships

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Sea Girt Inlet is reduced to an outflow pipe. The water it releases is often so contaminated with goose droppings that it causes beach closings for miles around.

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