Revision 7/20/2008 2:29 AM
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Ocean Venture
 Va Beach, VA |
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Year Built 1941 Date Sunk 8 February 1942 Previous Name None Depth 160 feet Gross Tonnage 7,174 Dimensions 425’ x 57’ x 34’ Vessel Type Freighter Power Coal Fired Steam Builder Todd-California Ship Bldg., Richmond CA Official Designation None Owner Ministry of War Location 26913.8 Home Port London England Location 41495.0 Cause of Sinking Torpedoed by U-108 Location -
In Brief
On her maiden voyage, filled with the goods needed by the British War Ministry, the Ocean Venture left San Pedor CA and traveled through the Panama Canal and on towards the coal depots of the Chesapeake Bay for refueling prior to the crossing that would take her back to Britain and into the war.
As the captain steered his ship towards the bay it was struck amidship by a torpedo fired by the U-108 under the command of Kapitanleutnant Scholtz. A few minutes later a second torpedo, and then twenty minutes later a third torpedo dealt the floundering ship it’s death blow. 32 souls were lost and 12 survived after 36 hours afloat in the February mid-Atlantic cold.
The bow is intact and lying on it’s side and a fifty foot section of stern lies cantered to port and the bridge lies upside down alone on the port side of the wreck.
Visability can range upwards of 50 feet and there are plenty of reminders of the violent blows that brought this maiden voyage to an abrupt end.
Source "Shipwrecks of Virginia" Gary Gentile 1992