Irish Wrecks On-Line - Tuscania SS (No. 860)

*Vessel Type:*	Government Transport Steamer	*Location:*	Co. Antrim
*Date of Loss:*	5th February 1918	*Place:*	Rathlin Island
*Cause of Loss:*	Torpedoed	*Boat Dive from:*	Ballycastle
*Charted Depth:*	108m	*Irish O.S. Map:*	Discovery Series No. 5
*Height of Wreck:*	16m	*Admiralty Chart No:*	2798
*Hull Material:*	Steel	*Latitude (GPS):*	55 29.37 North
*Type of Seabed:*		*Longitude (GPS):*	06 20.65 West
*Average Visibility:*	Very poor	*Diving Experience:*	Specialist Diving

Picture available?

Yes - photograph - click here

Diving Information:

Lies approximately 7 miles North Rathlin Island Lighthouse
Sitting upright with list to starboard, but decks are partly collapsed.
Both bells have been recovered, one by Norman Woods of Portstewart SAC in 1997.
Subject to strong currents with only a small ‘slack’ window.
A Tri-Mix dive for the very very experienced.
Normal light conditions are black.

Historical Information:

Built by Alexander Stephens & Sons Ltd., Govan, for the Anchor Line in 1914, she grossed 14,348 tons and measured 567 x 66.6 x 45 ft., with accommodation for 2,500 passengers.
Steam was produced by six large double-ended Scotch boilers giving her 17.5 knots maximum..
Was requisitioned by the Royal Navy and was "HMS Tuscania" when she sank.
Bound for the U.K. from Halifax, Nova Scotia in convoy HX20 consisting of about 20 ships, she was torpedoed by UB-77.
A stray torpedo exploded on under the cliffs at Altacarry lighthouse.
Of the 2235 aboard (2030 American troops), 166 were lost.

Source Publications:

"Shipwreck Index of Ireland"

by
Richard & Bridget Larn

Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Ltd 2002 - ISBN: 1900839970

"Shipwrecks of the Irish Coast 932 - 1997"

by
Edward J. Bourke

Edward J. Bourke 1998 - ISBN: 0952302713

"Shipwrecks of the Ulster Coast"

by
Ian Wilson

Impact Printing 1997 - ISBN: 0948154993

"The Harsh Winds of Rathlin"

by
Tommy Cecil

Impact Printing 1990 - ISBN: 0948154659

Other Sources:

Norman Woods

-
Portstewart SAC (2000)

UK Diving

-
Internet (Steven Schwartz 1999)

Last update - 01-Apr-2003