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WRECK ON THIS DAY...

17-05-1888 Jeune Hortense (+1888) wreck

The Jeune Hortense was swept on to the beach when she came into Mount´s Bay to land the body of a Fowey man who had died in France. The Penzance lifeboat was pulled on to the beach by a horse-drawn carriage and was rowed out to the grounded brigantine. It was not possible to re-float the vessel and it was eventually broken up for firewood.
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17-05-1865 Athens RMS (+1865) wreck

Athens RMS; Union Line; 1856; W. Denny & Bros.; 739 tons; 224.6x30.1x16.5 ft; 130h.p.; 11 knots; steam engines SS Athens was used in the Southampton and Cape Good Hope mail/passenger service. On May 17th 1865, during what was later called the Great Gale of 1865 , her anchors parted and the Captain, David Smith tried in vain to sail to the open sea and avoid the rocks. Unfortunately, the pounding seawater extinguished her boilers, making her uncontrollable. She finally ran onto the rocks, off Mouille Point and all of her 29 crew died. The only creature to survive this dramatic event was a pig that was washed ashore!.
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17-05-1912 A-3 HMS [+1912] wreck

Whilst on exercise off the Isle of Wight HMS A-3 surfaced directly in the path of HMS Hazard. The collision caused a large hole to be torn in the side of the submarine sinking her almost immediately. Raised and then used as a target and sunk on 17th May 1912.
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17-05-1940 Saint Kearan SS [+1940] wreck

Saint Kearan, on voyage with coal for Londonderry, sank 8 miles Southeast of Pladda Light (Arran), after a collision with the Explorateur Grandidier. Reported by the UKHO to be the St. Kenan, but we believe this is a typo.
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17-05-1947 Oklahoma USS (BB-37) (+1947) wreck

USS Oklahoma (BB-37), a Nevada-class battleship was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the 46th state. Her keel was laid down on 26 October 1912 by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation of Camden, New Jersey. She was launched on 23 March 1914 sponsored by Miss Lorena J. Cruce, and commissioned at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 2 May 1916 with Captain Roger Welles in command. She was the last ship of the U.S. Navy to be installed with vertical triple expansion (VTE) reciprocating machinery instead of steam turbines; she had a vibration problem throughout her lifetime as a result. The difficult salvage job was commenced on 15 July 1942 by Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard men under the immediate command of Captain F.H. Whitaker, USN. Preparations for righting the overturned hull took 7¾ months. The actual righting took 3¼ months, between 8 March 1943 and 16 June, with Oklahoma being towed into dry dock on 28 December. Decommissioned 1 September 1944, Oklahoma was stripped of guns and superstructure and sold on 5 December 1946 to Moore Drydock Company of Oakland, California. Oklahoma sank on 17 May 1947, 540 miles out of Pearl Harbor, while being towed to San Francisco. Oklahoma received one battle star for her World War II service.
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17-05-2006 Oriskany USS (CV-34) (+2006) wreck

Oriskany USS (CV/CVA-34) was originally designed as an Essex Class Aircraft Carrier. She was modernised in 1957 as a 32,000 ton Ticonderoga Class Aircraft Carrier. She is the first Aircraft Carrier to be sunk since WW2. Also known as the " Mighty O". She now lies in 212 feet and is a divers haven. It cost about $19.2 million dollars to sink this vessel. This is the largest vesel ever sunk intentionally and is part of the Florida Artificial Reef Program. 26 charges detonated on the carrier. The small boat seen on the carrier deck housed a generator and electronics to set off the explosives. As the vessel sinks it is designed to float off! And it worked.
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17-05-1889 M.F. Merrick SV (+1889) wreck

She was run down in a heavy fog by the steamer R.P. RANNEY and dove under bow first in less than a minute. She was well offshore at the time. Bound Port Austin for Portage, MI. with a cargo of furnace sand. Owned at this time by Taylor & Maitland of Detroit. Master: Capt. Alexander Rusho.
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17-05-1907 Albania SV (+1907) wreck

SV ALBANIA Built by Barclay, Curle & Co., Glasgow (#153); 1191 grt, 1089 nrt, 1770 dwt.; 227.5 x 34.3 x 22.3 On May 17th, 1907, the Norwegian barque SV ALBANIA, owned at the time of her loss by Johanson J. & Co., Oslo, was on a voyage from Koru, Ny Caledonia to Stettin with a cargo of nickel ore, when she was abandoned, East of Tonga. From Norway sources : 1867: Febr.: Levert som CITY OF GLASGOW for George Smith & Sons, Glasgow, UK 1900: Mai: Solgt til A/S Albania (J. Johanson & Co.), Kristiania. Omdøpt ALBANIA 1907: 17.05 .: Forlatt Ø av Tonga, på reise Koru, Ny Caledonia – Stettin med nikkelmalm.
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17-05-1918 Sculptor SS (+1918) wreck

Sculptor SS was a Britsih Cargo Steamer of 4,874 tons built in 1912 by A McMillan & Son, Dumbarton, Yard No 445 for the British & Foreign Steamship Company ( Rankin & Gilmour & Co ) as the SAINT ANDREW SS. On 1918 she was purchased by Charente SS Co ( T&J Harrison ) and renamed SCULPTOR. On the 17th May 1918 she was torpedoed by German submarine U-39 off Oran, damaged and beached. She later blew up and was destroyed. In the attack her captain and six men were killed.
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17-05-1918 Phyllis SS (+1918) wreck

Phyllis SS was a originally a Swedish cargo steamer of 1,455grt that was requisioned by British Government and transferred to The Shipping Controller, manager E. A. Casper, Edgar & Co., West Hartlepool, England, no change of name.On the 17th May 1918 she was stranded and wrecked about 500 yards WSW Hartland Quay, Devon, U.K. on voyage in ballast from Fe´Camp for Barry Roads.
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17-05-1919 Tuggerah SS (+1919) wreck

Tuggerah; Coaster; 749 tons; 56.8x8.8x3.8 m.; Owned by Wallarah Coal Co; Built at Clyde Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd. in 1912. Registered at Sydney. Registration no. 69/1912. On 17 May 1919, Tuggerah (J. Mcconanchie) was on voyage from Bulli to Sydney with a cargo of coal and a crew of 17, when she was lost after capsizing off Port Hacking. 6 died, of which 6 crew.
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17-05-1941 Statesman SS (+1941) wreck

Stateman SS was a British cargo steamer of 7,939grt that was bombed and sunk west of Ireland (56.44N 13.45W) when on route from New Orleans for Belfast and Liverpool.
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17-05-1942 Gulfoil SS (+1942) wreck

Gulfoil SS was an American Steam Tanker built in 1921 and of 5,189 tons. She was on route from FORT ARTHUR for NEW YORK carrying a cargo of 30000 barrels heavy diesel oil when she was torpedoed by German submarine U-506 and sunk. 21 crew lost from a total crew 40.
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17-05-1942 Foam FV (+1942) wreck

Foam FV was an American Steam Trawler of 324 tons built in 1919 in Savannah. She was owned by General Seafoods Corp, Boston, Massachusetts - Homeport Boston. On the 17th May 1942 when on a voyage from Boston for Nova Scotia fishing grounds, Grand Banks she was attacked by gunfire from German submarine U-432 and sunk. 1 crew lost from a crew of 21.
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17-05-1942 Barrdale SS (+1942) wreck

Barrdale SS was a British Cargo Steamer of 5,072 tons built in 1925 by Greenock Dockyard Co, Greenock, Yard No 408 for The Barr Shipping Co. (Barr, Crombie & Co.), Glasgow. Engines by J G Kincaid & Co Ltd Greenock. In 1941 she was acquired Reardon Smith Line, Cardiff. On the 17th May 1942 when on passage from New York to Table Bay she was sunk by German submarine U-156 E of Martinique at 15.15N/52.27W with the loss of one gunner.
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17-05-1942 Challenger MV (+1942) wreck

After leaving New York, the Challenger (Master John G. Waller) broke down and steamed to Savannah for repairs, but there were no facilities available and so she limped unescorted to Trinidad. At 09.52 hours on 17 May 1942, U-155 caught the ship on a slow zigzagging course 25 miles east of Granada and fired two torpedoes. The first struck the #3 tank amidships on the starboard side and the second abaft the #5 hold, causing the after magazine to explode. This destroyed the entire stern section and blew the 4in gun completely of its mounting. The engines were stopped and an SOS was sent, but received no reply. The gun crew spotted a light off the port beam and opened fire with the forward 3in gun (the ship was also armed with six .50cal guns) at 3000 yards. 18 rounds were fired without effect and the light eventually crossed the bow and dissappeared to the southwest. The ship carried nine officers, 32 crewmen, eleven armed guards and twelve passengers. She settled slowly and sank by the stern after one hour. Two armed guards, one passenger and five crewmen died on the vessel. 56 men abandoned ship in the two port lifeboats and were picked up eleven hours later by the armed yacht USS Turquoise (PY 18), which was led to the survivors by an aircraft and were landed at Trinidad.
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17-05-1942 Peisander MV (+1942) wreck

At 19.01 hours on 17 May, 1942, the unescorted Peisander (Master Agnus Shaw) was hit by two torpedoes from U-653 and sank at 19.45 hours about 350 miles southeast of Nantucket Island after a coup de grâce at 19.28 hours had hit the ship. The master, 57 crew members, three gunners and four passengers were picked up by the US Coast Guard cutter USS General Greene (WPC-140) and landed at Newport, Rhode Island.
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17-05-1942 San Victorio MV (+1942) wreck

At 02.17 hours on 17 May, 1942, the unescorted San Victorio (Master Sidney Perry), on her maiden voyage, was hit by two torpedoes from U-155 and sank southwest of Grenada. The tanker had been spotted at 00.33 hours and missed by a first torpedo at 01.14 hours. The U-boat had to crash dive 10 minutes after the hits because a flying boat was sighted. The master, 43 crew members, seven gunners and one passenger were lost. The sole survivor, gunner Anthony Ryan, was picked up by the American patrol yacht USS Turquoise (PY 18) and landed at Trinidad.
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17-05-1943 Northmoor MV (+1943) wreck

Northmoor MV was a British Cargo Motor vessel of 4,392 tons built in 1928 by William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland and owned by the Moor Line Ltd. On the 17th May 1943 when on route from Lourenço Marques (16 May) to Buenos Aires via Durban in Convoy LMD-17 she carrying a cargo of 6,912 tons of coal when she was torpedoed by U-198 and sunk. 12 crew lost, 27 survivors. Convoy LMD-17 comprised six ships. The Master, 20 crew, 4 gunners and two DBS were rescued by the British trawler HMS St. Loman (FY.276) (Lt. R.C. Warwick, DSC) and landed at Durban. Eleven crew and one gunner were lost.
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17-05-1943 Kyphissia SS (+1943) wreck

SS Kyphissia was sunk by British torpedo-bombers off Den Helder.
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17-05-1943 I-164 (+1943) wreck

On May 17th 1943, I-164, a KD4 type submarine by coincidence, crosses the path of US submarine USS TRITON (SS-201). Triton (LtCdr. Charles C. Kirkpatrick) fires his last remaining Mark-14 bow torpedo and I-164 sinks in just 2 minutes by the stern. All 81 hands lost. Note: Kirkpatrick would later become Rear Admiral of the U.S. Navy.
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17-05-1943 Aymeric SS (II) (+1943) wreck

At 02.37 hours on 17 May 1943, the Aymeric (Master Sidney Morris) in convoy ONS-7 was torpedoed and sunk by U-657 east of Cape Farewell. 52 crew members and one gunner were lost. The master, 18 crew members and six gunners were picked up by the British rescue ship Copeland (Master W.J. Hartley DSC) and the British armed trawler HMS Northern Wave (FY 153) (Lt J.P. Kilbee) and landed at Halifax on 25 May.
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17-05-1943 U-128 (+1943) wreck

Sunk 17 May, 1943 in the South Atlantic south of Pernambuco, by gunfire from the US destroyers USS Moffett, USS Jouett and depth charges from two Mariner aircraft (Sqdn VP-74/P-6/P-5). 7 dead and 47 survivors.
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17-05-1943 England Maru SS (+1943) wreck

On May 17th, 1943, the cargo S/S England Maru was torpedoed and sunk by the U.S. submarine Grayback, off the Admiralty Islands.
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17-05-1944 U-616 (+1944) wreck

On May 14th 1944, German submarine U-616 attacks the convoy GUS 39 off Cape Tenes, Morocco, prompting a search by Oran-based U.S. destroyers. On May 17th, US destroyers Gleaves (DD-423), Hilary P. Jones (DD-427), Ellyson (DD-454), Hambleton (DD-455), Rodman (DD-456), Emmons (DD-457), Macomb (DD-458), Nields (DD-616), and RAF Wellington (No. 36 Squadron) sink the German submarine U-616 in western Mediterranean, 37°52´N, 00°11´E. U-960 attacks Ellyson without success. On May 19th 1944, US destroyers Niblack (DD-424) and Ludlow (DD-438) and British aircraft sink German submarine U-960, western Mediterranean, 37°20´N, 01°35´E.
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17-05-2002 Spiegel Grove USS (+2002) wreck

Spiegel Grove USS (LSD-32) is 8899 tons and was a Thomaston-class of Dock Landing Ship of the United States Navy. She is the 2nd largest ship ever sunk intentionally and is part of the Florida Artificial Reef Program.
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17-05-1800 Railleur HMS (+1800) wreck

HMS RAILLEUR; Sloop; 20 cannons; 261 bm; 89.5x26 ft.; She was a French privateer taken by HMS BOADICEA on 17th November 1797. She foundered on 17th May 1800 in the English Channel.
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17-05-1825 Columbus (+1825) wreck

COLUMBUS and BARON OF RENFREW have been the first 4-masted barque-rigged ships. Both ships were designed as disposable ships or log ships, with the purpose of selling the ship-wood at their destination ports. The COLUMBUS sailed from Quebec to London with 6300 tons of timber and was wrecked in the English Channel on return voyage to St. John NB on May 17th, 1825.
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17-05-1828 Union HMS (+1828) wreck

HMS UNION; Schooner; 85 bm; 60x19 ft; 4 cannons; Purchased in 1823, Jamaica. Lost on Rose Island in the West Indies on 17th May 1828.
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17-05-1852 Favourite or Favorite (+1852) wreck

Favorite; Ketch; 15 tons; 13.1x3.6x1.3 m.; Owned by J. Woodward; Built at James Woodward in 1849. Registered at Sydney. Registration no. 91/1849. On 17 May 1852, Favorite (Capt. Steriker) was on voyage from Melbourne to Sydney with a cargo of gold dust (2000 oz) and 8 passengers, when she was lost. 8 died.
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