Revision 7/20/2008 2:31 AM
Year Built 1918 Date Sunk 17 June 1942 Previous Name None Depth 60 feet Gross Tonnage 7,117 Dimensions 449’ x 57’ x 34’ Vessel Type Bulk Cargo Carrier Power Oil F ired Steam Builder Bethlehem Steel, Sparrow Point MD Official Designation None Owner Ore Steam Ship Co. Location 27117.0 Home Port New York NY Location 41276.9 Cause of Sinking Mined by U-701 Location -
In Brief
The Santore was returning to Chile with her holds full of coal when the one remaining mine in a channel that had been swept and declared "clean" blew a hole in her portside. The ship sank in less than 3 minutes, giving the crew no time to launch life boats. Forty three men were picked up from the sea and three were missing and presumed killed in the explosion or drown.
Because the ship was a hazard to navigation it was blown to pieces by the US Coast Guard Cutter Gentian and there was nothing left recognizable as a marine vessel, except for the boilers which can be identified, but that doesn’t seem to bother the marine life, nice dive for lobster and spearfishing.
Source "Shipwrecks of Virginia" Gary Gentile 1992