Northern Pacific (1/2)

Shipwreck Northern Pacific
In wartime camouflage paint scheme, with guns at the bow and stern
( obviously retouched by censors. )
Type:
shipwreck, liner, USA
Built:
1915, Philadelphia PA USA
Specs:
( 509 x 63 ft ) 8256 gross tons, 28 crew
Sunk:
Wednesday February 8, 1922
burned - 4 casualties
Depth:
140 ft

The Northern Pacific was taken over by the military for World War I, armed, and used as a fast troopship. During her military service, the Northern Pacific made 13 round-trips to Europe and was severely damaged in a grounding off Long Island. She was repaired but later lost while under tow to new owners.

Today the Northern Pacific lies upside down in 140 ft of water on a sandy bottom, rising some 30 ft of the bottom. The starboard side is intact, with a few holes allowing entry. The port side has large gaping wounds as if she had exploded outward, and can be easily penetrated. Due to the long ride, she is not often dived. There was some salvage work done on her to remove her propellers. There is a debris field surrounding her, mostly on the port side.

Artifacts are still found, including portholes, again mostly on the port side. She is a good lobster and spearfishing wreck. Visibility is usually good, sometimes, exceeding 100 ft. Currents can be unpredictable, and temperatures range from the low '40s to the '50s during the summer months.

Shipwreck Northern Pacific
Shortly after launching
Shipwreck Northern Pacific
A postcard from the brief period as a civilian liner
Shipwreck Northern Pacific
Hard aground off Fire Island. Note the stern gun (later removed), dazzle paint, and small subchaser in the foreground.
Shipwreck Northern Pacific
Under repair after grounding

Note: This ship is huge, 50% bigger than the Mohawk, longer than both the Algol and the San Diego, heavier than the Oregon, and intact. This must be one hell of a dive!

Shipwreck Northern Pacific
The stern showing the three-propeller layout
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Shipwreck Thurmond
The unusual submarine-like hull form of a whale-back steamer. Sea-keeping was poor, and the design was ultimately not successful, and died out.
Type:
shipwreck, "whale-back" steamer, USA
Built:
1890, Duluth MN USA, as Colgate Hoyt
Specs:
( 276 x 36 ft ) 1253 displacement tons
Sunk:
Saturday December 25, 1909
ran aground in thick fog - 10 casualties
Depth:
14 ft

Printed from njscuba.net