Maritime record MWX2039 - Black Hawk (forepart)

Remains of an American cargo vessel, blown-up by torpedo 1944 from U772. Stern disintegrate and broke up after magazine exploded. Later, in 1967, dispersed to make way for pipeline.

Built 1943. Whilst part of convoy TBC-21 on passage from France via the Isle of Wight the BLACK HAWK was torpedoed by German submarine U772 (Rademacher) on 29-DEC-1944 at 13.37pm when some 5 miles south of Portland Bill. The explosion took place opposite No. 5 hold on the port side and her stern disintegrated. At the same time the after magazine blew up and a large crack appeared on her starboard side at No. 3 hold, running from the deck to below the waterline. The after end of the ship flooded immediately, putting her in a very stern down attitude and she was abandoned by her crew. Only the cook was killed and the rest picked up an hour later by HMS DAHLIA. (2) Survivors landed at Brixham as 18.30. In 1948 the forepart was partially salvaged, and in 1967 a channel was blasted through the wreck using explosives to make way for a pipeline to be laid from Winfrith. (3)

For years the superstructure of the BLACK HAWK showed well above the water, and despite being open to storms from the south and south-west she refused to break up and sink gracefully beneath the waves. Eventually she was given a decent burial when the Royal Navy blew her up on the basis that she was a navigational hazard... (4) The forward part was towed and beached off Worbarrow Bay

Surveying/salvage history from UKHO:
30-DEC-1944. Declared total loss. [See also 50 24 44N, 02 26 02W and 50 26 10N, 02 25 18W].

06-SEP-1945 Position 50 36 42N, 02 12 18W. Bow 257degres, 4900 feet. 1948 The forepart was partially salvaged.

20-AUG-1956 Drift sweep in 50 36 44N, 02 12 21W.

29-FEB-1968 When Worbarrow bay pipeline was laid the wreck was dispersed, using explosives, to its present position of 50 36 43N, 02 12 19.5W. 03-APR-1970 Little wreckage remains, well scattered over the seabed.

16-OCT-1992 Lies in 3 main pieces - a) 50 36 46.4N, 02 12 22.3W - least depth 14.8m; b) 50 36 46.4N, 02 12 21.7W to 51 36 46.4N, 02 12 19.9W - least depth 12.8m; c) 503643 2N 021222 1W least depth 15m. Well scattered and broken with no orientation. Side scan sonar height 2m in general depth 15m. Scour, to the NE of wreckage, 1.5M deep. (1)

A brass tap, similar in size to a bath tap, recovered from this wreck, position 50 36.430N 002 12.195W. (Droit A/3178) (6)
A small brass shell case, twisted and broken, and a small bullet head recovered from this wreck, position 50 36.68N 002 12.43W. (Droit A/3855) (6).

Additional sources cited in United Kingdom Shipwreck Index: TLS p79; ACW p33; DGWP p29; DS p62.

Gross tonnage

Position 50 36.68N 2 12.43W taken from (7)

<1> United Kingdom Hydrographic Office, 1992, Hydrographic Office wreck index (Index). SWX4837.

<2> Larn, Richard, 1992, United Kingdom shipwreck index, Extracted 23 November 1992 (Index). SWX5030.

<3> Larn, R, and Larn, B, 1995, Shipwreck index of the British Isles, volume 1 : Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset Section 6, Dorset (AJ) Vol 1 (Monograph). SWX4541.

<4> Hinchcliffe, J and V, 1984, Dive Dorset: a diver guide (1st Edition), p122 (Monograph). SWX1714.

<5> 1989, Lloyds war losses: the Second World War 3 September-14 August 1945, p783 (Index). SWX4997.

<6> 2001, Maritime and Coastguard Agency: Receiver of Wreck Amnesty (Index). SWX4542.

<7> Hinchcliffe, J and V, 1999, Dive Dorset: a diver guide (3rd Edition), P145 (Monograph). SWX1.

<8> Cumming, E, The Dorset shipwreck and maritime incident directory, 14 (Monograph). SDO16406.

<9> National Record of the Historic Environment, 904665 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Apr 4 2024 10:15AM