Curacoa (Hms) - Bow Wreck

Field Value
Curacoa (hms) - bow Wreck Location
Marine Coordinates (DMM) 		55 50.315 N,8 38.123 W
Latitude, Longitude
Decimal Degrees
  • Latitude: 55.838590
  • Longitude: -8.635380
Name CURACOA (HMS) - BOW
Type cruiser (military)
Date Sunk Oct 2, 1942
Original Source Brady et. al. 2012, 144-5; BVLS 1939-45, 18; Colledge 2003, 90; Hocking 1989, 172; Larn & Larn 2002; Lloyd's List 40, 726, Wednesday 13th June 1945; Lloyd's List 40, 727, Thursday 14th June 1945; Lloyd's List 40, 728, Friday 15th June 1945.
WRECK MAP LOADING ... 55 50.315 N,8 38.123 W
Curacoa (Hms) - Bow on Wreck Map Curacoa (Hms) - Bow Wreck on Google Map
Wreck No: W07242, Place of Loss: Tory Island, Co. Donegal, 68km NW of, Source of Coordinate: GSI Wreck Data, Description: The Curacoa was a light cruiser and one of five Ceres C-class cruisers built between 1916 and 1918. It was built in Pembroke Dock, Wales, in May 1917, weighed 4,290 tons and was capable of 29 knots. It was commissioned on 18 February 1918 and saw service during the final months of World War I. It was refitted as an anti-aircraft cruiser in late 1939 and employed as an escort vessel for transatlantic convoys. It was during one such voyage that the Curacoa, under the command of Captain John W. Boutwood, was accidentally lost while escorting the Cunard White Star liner RMS Queen Mary. The famous liner was part of a convoy of 27 vessels that was en route from New York to the Clyde and was carrying 15,000 American troops, headed for service with the Allied war effort in Europe. As the convoy was nearing the northern approaches to Ireland, the liner was steaming at 28 knots on an evasive zigzag course when it accidentally collided with the Curacoa, striking the cruiser on its port side and splitting the smaller naval vessel in two. The Curacoa sank within minutes, with the lost of 338 of the 364 crew on board. The RMS Queen Mary received relatively minor damage and continued on her way, without stopping to pick up any survivors from the Curacoa for fear of attack from U-boats. It was leftto other vessels in the convoy to eventually rescue the remaining 26 survivors, who included the Captain among their number. After the war, an inquiry into the incident assigned two-thirds of the blame to the British Admiralty and the remaining one-third to Cunard White Star for the cause of the incident. GSI Wreck No_21 - bow. See also W06353 for details on the location of the stern of the wreck.

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FAQ

Where is the CURACOA (HMS) - BOW wreck located?

The CURACOA (HMS) - BOW wreck is located at coordinates 55 50.315 N,8 38.123 W.

When did the CURACOA (HMS) - BOW sink?

The CURACOA (HMS) - BOW sank on Oct 2, 1942.

What type of wreck is the CURACOA (HMS) - BOW?

The CURACOA (HMS) - BOW is classified as a cruiser (military).

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