Justicia (Ss) Wreck

Field Value
Justicia (ss) Wreck Location
Marine Coordinates (DMM) 		55 39.783 N,7 43.219 W
Latitude, Longitude
Decimal Degrees
  • Latitude: 55.663050
  • Longitude: -7.720310
Name JUSTICIA (SS)
Type steam ship
Date Sunk Jul 19, 1918
Original Source BMS 1914-18, 178; BVLS 1914-18, 93; Bishop 2002, 51-6; Bishop 2004, 27-34; Bishop & Louden-Brown 2001, 8-14; Brady et. al. 2012, 115-8; Grant 1964, 113-14; Hocking 1989, 366; Lloyd's List, No. 32, 469, Thur. 25th Jul. 1918, 6; Lloyd's List, No. 32, 470, Fri. 26th Jul. 1918, 6; Lloyd's List, No. 32, 537, Mon. 14th Oct. 1918, 7; Lloyd's List, No. 32, 617, Fri. 17th Jan. 1919, 8; Williams 1997, 80-81
WRECK MAP LOADING ... 55 39.783 N,7 43.219 W
Justicia (Ss) on Wreck Map Justicia (Ss) Wreck on Google Map
Wreck No: W07410, Place of Loss: Malin Head, Co. Donegal, 38km NW of, Source of Coordinate: GSI, Description: This 32,234-ton steel steamship was originally built by Harland & Wolff for the Holland-Amerika Line as the Statendam, a liner capable of carrying 3,430 passengers. It was powered by triple-expansion engines, allowing for speeds up to 18 knots. The Statendam was launched on 9 July 1914 and was due to serve on transatlantic passenger service routes, but the British Government requisitioned the vessel and changed its name to Justicia, earmarking it for service as a troopship in 1917. Under the management of the White Star Line, the Justicia entered service on 7 April 1917 and made several successful transatlantic trips, carrying American troops for service in Europe. The Justicia had a close call when it survived a U-boat attack in January 1918, when it had 600–700 crew on board, but no passengers. Later that year, on 19 July, the liner was en route from Liverpool to New York in convoy when it was attacked by UB-64, under the command of Kapitänleutnant Otto von Schrader. At 2.30pm a torpedo struck the engine room, and at 4.30pm two more torpedoes were fired: one missed its target; the other was diverted by gunfire. At 8.00pm a fourth torpedo was discharged, but gunfire again proved successful in diverting the aim. Naval escorts dropped depth charges that damaged the UB-64’s fuel tanks, forcing the U-boat to retreat from further attack. The next morning UB-124, on its first patrol, sighted the Justicia under tow, accompanied by a dozen escort destroyers. At 9.15am UB-124 launched two torpedoes at the damaged vessel. Eventually, the Justicia sank, stern first, at 12.40pm, with the loss of 16 lives; the rest of the crew were rescued by nearby ships. The naval destroyers HMS Marne, Millbrook and Pigeon subsequently succeeded in sinking UB-124. On the seafloor The wreck of the Justicia measures 224m in length, 50m in width and 8m in maximum height, with an average height of 3.1m. The vessel is orientated N–S on the seafloor and shows some sediment scouring on the east side. Today, even 70m down, the ravages of the relentless Atlantic swell and corrosion have left this gigantic ship in a very broken state. She is still an impressive sight, however, and her majestic bow, still largely intact, is probably one of the most remarkable sights a diver can encounter in Irish waters. The starboard anchor, still in its hawse, dwarfs any visiting diver and epitomises the scale of this great ship. Gigantic capstans and windlasses dot the fo’c’sle, and aft past the giant forehold the bridge superstructure has collapsed down and to port, to rest with deck level on the seabed. Giant rectangular windows, each the size of a door, gaze sternly out over the foredeck. Behind that again lies the field of 12 giant Scotch boilers, each the size of a modern semi-detached house, followed by the two enormous eight-cylinder, triple-expansion steam engines. Just aft is the steam turbine, which was run by the exhaust steam from the two engines and drove the centre propeller shaft and which is often overlooked amongst the giant structures. This three-screw arrangement was pioneered by Harland & Wolff on the Laurentic, the wreck of which lies nearby, and also on the Titanic and her sister ships. The stern is fairly broken up now, but the stern gun and rudder quadrant are still visible.

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FAQ

Where is the JUSTICIA (SS) wreck located?

The JUSTICIA (SS) wreck is located at coordinates 55 39.783 N,7 43.219 W.

When did the JUSTICIA (SS) sink?

The JUSTICIA (SS) sank on Jul 19, 1918.

What type of wreck is the JUSTICIA (SS)?

The JUSTICIA (SS) is classified as a steam ship.

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