Leopoldville Wreck
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Wreck Category | dangerous wreck |
|
Leopoldville Wreck Location Marine Coordinates (DMM) |
49 45.147 N,1 36.659 W |
| Latitude, Longitude Decimal Degrees |
|
| Wreck Depth | 31 m |
| Water Depth | 52 m |
| Water Level Effect | always under water/submerged |
| Vertical Datum | Approximate Lowest Astronomical Tide |
| Name | LEOPOLDVILLE |
| Type | liner |
| Flag | BE |
| Length | 151.4 m |
| Width | 18.9 m |
| Draught | 10.7 |
| Sonar Length | 170 |
| Sonar Width | 30 |
| Orientation | 45 |
| Tonnage | 11509 |
| Tonnage Type | gross |
| Cargo | personnel |
| Conspic Visual | not visually conspicuous |
| Conspic Radar | not radar conspicuous |
| Date Sunk | Dec 24, 1944 |
| Bottom Texture | Sand |
| Original Detection Year | 1945 |
| Last Detection Year | 2017 |
| Original Source | Lloyd's and Marine Underwriter's reports |
| Surveying Details | H0121/45 6.4.45 NDW IN 494441N, 013630W. (AUTHORITY NOT STATED). - FNM 990/45.. H5493/69 8.2.72 WK 33MTRS IN 494457N, 013643W. (PARIS NM 71 51 07). - NM 347/72. 18.5.73 NOT SHOWN ON FRENCH 846. NCA YET. H1783/67 2.12.75 POSN AMENDED TO 494511N, 013641W. (FRENCH NM 74 45 16). BR STD. 12.3.84 NAMED AS STEAMER 'LEOPOLDVILLE' LOCATED IN 494511N, 013637W [EUR]. IN GEN DEPTH 53 MTRS. (FRENCH WK RECORDS 1976). BR STD. H1310/85/4 29.1.85 WK LIES, WELL PRESERVED, ON ITS SIDE, ON A SOUTHERLY HEADING. (P ENAULT). 22.9.88 UNKNOWN IN 494511.3N, 013637.1W [EUR]. POSN ACCURACY 20MTRS. LEAST DEPTH 33 IN GEN DEPTH 53MTRS. (FRENCH WK RECORDS 1987). (REP' DES CROCHES ET EPAVES 1987). 14.6.90 WK PD 33MTRS SHOWN IN 494511N, 013637W ON FRENCH 7092 [1988 EDN]. NC 2613. 4.2.93 WK 31MTRS IN 494512N, 013635W. (FRENCH WK RECORDS 1992 NO.14591011). BR STD.. HH100/351/10 6.9.95 THE WK LIES INTACT ON HER STARBOARD WITH A HUGE HOLE VISIBLE ON HER PORT SIDE WHERE THE TORPEDO STRUCK. WK IS USED BY THE FRENCH NAVY FOR DIVER TRAINING. (C BADRICK, 31.8.95). NCA. 15.4.99 POSN 4945.207N, 0136.579W [EUR]. ACCURACY 10MTRS. LENGTH 170MTRS, WIDTH 30MTRS. LIES NE/SW. UPPER DECK DETAILS VISIBLE ON DCS3. (FRENCH WK RECORDS 1999). BR STD. HH351/530/01 2.10.01 RESTRICTED AREA RADIUS 0.5 MILE CENTRED ON 5046.20N (SIC), 0136.60W [EUR]. UNDERWATER ACTIVITIES PROHIBITED. (FRENCH NM 01 37 34). POSN GIVEN AS 4945.5N, 0142.0E [EUR] IN SD AMENDMENT ATTACHED. INS REST'D AREA AND LEGEND. - NM 4582/01. HH100/351/21 26.7.04 DIVED IN 4945.183N, 0136.699W [WGD]. STANDS 20MTRS HIGH BY DEPTH GAUGE. LENGTH >100MTRS, WIDTH 20MTRS. LIES ON PORT SIDE, BREAK TOWARDS THE BOW. GUN ON BOW. (G LOCKETT). NCA. SEP 2015/000182665 30.9.15 SHOWN AS WK 31MTRS IN 4945.147N, 0136.659W [WGD] ON FRENCH 7092 [ED 4, COR TO 11.8.15]. NCA. |
| Last Amended Date | Mar 28, 2017 |
Circumstances of loss
BUILT IN 1929 BY SON ANON JOHN COCKERILL. OWNED AT TIME OF LOSS BY CIE MARITIME BELGE (LLOYD ROYAL) SOC ANON. QUADRUPLE EXPANSION ENGINES AND LP TURBINES OF 1225 NHP FOR 15.6 KNOTS. PASSAGE SOUTHAMPTON FOR CHERBOURG WITH SOME 2200 TROOPS OF THE US 66TH DIVISION. TORPEDOED BY U 486. DAMAGED VESSEL ANCHORED 5.5M N OF CHERBOURG. THE MASTER FAILED TO APPRECIATE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE SITUATION AND AND A DELAY OF THREE QUARTERS OF AN HOUR ENSUED PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF A LEISURLY DISEMBARKMENT. BULKHEADS COLLAPSED & SHE SANK IN TEN MINUTES. 802MEN LOST. (DODS, AXIS SUBMARINE SUCCESSES & LL WW2).
WRECK MAP LOADING ...
49 45.147 N,1 36.659 W
Leopoldville on Wreck Map
Leopoldville Wreck on Google Map
Nearby Wrecks:
- Neree Wreck 57.3 M
- Neree (Possibly) Wreck 403.3 M
- Magicien Wreck 2938.1 M
- Destroyer Wreck 24100 3897.5 M
- Saint Brandan Wreck 4028.1 M
- St Brandan Wreck 4086.4 M
- Anchor Wreck 43184 4162.2 M
- General Du Temple Wreck 4970.7 M
- Chantereyne Wreck 5386.9 M
- Strathalbyn Wreck 6101.3 M
General Comments
Under water activities Prohibited