Unknown Wreck 116299

General Comments

H9255WD/71-- OPR-467-R/H-71; SUBMERGED WRECK LOCATED IN LAT. 36-54-49N, LONG. 76-05-24W. IDENTIFIED AS THE WRECK OF AN ARMED SAILING VESSEL, LL LD OF 5.0 FEET. THIS ITEM WAS ASSIGNED THROUGH ì THE ATLANTIC MARINE CENTER FROM THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AFTER SEVERAL VESSELS HAD REPORTED STRIKING A SUBMERGED OBSTRUCTION IN THE CHANNEL ENTRANCE TO LYNNHAVEN, VIRGINIA. CL200/71-- RADIO MESSAGE, NOAAS HECK TO CGD5, INFO NOS, ATLANTIC MARINE CENTER, NORFOLK, VA., FEB. 22, 1971. UNDERWATER OBSTRUCTION LOCATED LAT. 36-54-48N, LONG. 76-05-25W. LEAST DEPTH 6 FEET MLW. (REPORTED TO BE OLD WARSHIP, SAILING TYPE, BETWEEN 100 AND 200 YEARS OLD PER WHEATLY WARD, C-351). LNM8/71-- UNDERWATER OBSTRUCTION REPORTED TO EXIST IN LAT. 36-54-48N, LONG. 76-05-25W. COVERED 6 FEET AT MLW. LNM9/71-- LYNNHAVEN INLET CHANNEL BUOY 3 (LLP 332) HAS BEEN RELOCATED IN POSITION LAT. 36-54-47N, LONG. 76-05-25W TO MARK ROUTE OF BEST WATER (SEE PAGE 3 OF LNM 8/71, UNDERWATER OBSTRUCTION). (ENT 4/7/94, SJV) DESCRIPTION **** TELCON, 4/12/94, S. VERRY (NOS) AND CHRIS ROWLEY (COE, NORFOLK); DANGEROUS SUBMERGED WRECK LOCATED IN LAT. 36-54-48.7N, LONG. 76-05-23.9W (NAD27). LEAST OBSERVED ECHO SOUNDER DEPTH 6.7 FEET. (TEL. NO. 804-441-7018) DIVERS REPORT FINDING TIMBERS, COPPER PLATING AND A PILE OF BALLAST. **** VIRGINIA-PILOT, SAT., MARCH 20, 1971. NEWSPAPER ITEM. SALVAGE WORK ON WRECK CARRIED OUT BY CHARLES V. SPENCER. SEVEN CANNON AND THREE SWIVEL GUNS BROUGHT UP. RU/HE SALVAGED ONE CANNON ON 2/22/71, THE DAY THE WRECK WAS FOUND. ALL THAT REMAINS IS A PILE OF BALLAST STONE. GUNS DIFFER IN SIZE LEADING SPENCER TO SPECULATE THAT THE SHIP WAS EITHER A PRIVATEER OR A PIRATE VESSEL CIRCA 1770-1820. SPENCER TO TAKE ONE OF THE SMALL SWIVEL GUNS TO THE MARINERS MUSEUM (NEWPORT NEWS) TO HELP IDENTIFY AND DATE THE WRECK MORE PRECISELY. HE PLANS TO CLEAN AND SELL THE GUNS. THE GUNS FOR SALE WEIGH 1,800 LBS. EACH. (UP 4/13/94, SJV)