SAHRA Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage
March 11:
“This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history”
1837: Maria, this wooden sailing brig wrecked during a south easterly in Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape.
1840: Hope, this sail (schooner) and paddle-wheeled steam-powered coaster wrecked near Wreck point, west of Oyster Bay in the Eastern Cape. Whilst in a thick mist it struck a ridge of rocks about 200 m from the shore. The captain thought that they were 40 km from the shore. Only one of the two lifeboats were usable, so a second one was manufactured and towed to shore using the first. A return journey resulted in all 72 people that were on board being saved. The vessel became a total wreck and is often referred to being the first steamer to have wrecked on the South African coast.
1842: Adolph Fanny, this French sailing barque was put into Table Bay in the Western Cape for repairs and caulking in but was condemned after inspection.
1853: Agatha, this sailing cutter capsized and wrecked whilst crossing the bar of the Mthatha river near Coffee Bay in the Eastern Cape.
1894: Seagull, this three-masted wooden sailing schooner wrecked in a south easterly gale after its cables parted just off De Bakke beach in Mossel Bay in the Western Cape.
1943: Aelybryn, this steam-powered ship was the final vessel to be claimed by the infamous U-160. Late at night and unescorted the Aelybryn was struck by two torpedoes fired from U-160. The Germans questioned the survivors and again, a misunderstanding resulted in the incorrect name being reported, this time the Aelybryn was reported as being the Arian. Out of the 41 on board, The Lourenço Marques picked up 32 survivors and landed them in Cape Town, meaning nine lives were lost. This was the Aelybryn’s second time being attacked by a German U-boat, having had an encounter with U-556 two years earlier which it managed to survive with some damage and the loss of life of one crew member. As for the fate of U-160 and its crew, they were sunk by the US Navy on the 14th of July 1943, near the Azores islands in the North-Eastern Atlantic.
1944: UIT-22, this Italian submarine, which was taken over by the Germans after the Italians surrendered, was sunk south of Cape Point in the Western Cape. During operation “Wicketkeeper”, three RAF Catalina’s went hunting for three known U-boats near Cape Point.
The German submarine UIT-22 leaves Bordeaux for the last time
Pilot Officer, FJ “Fred” Roddick spotted one and opened fire with all of his guns, managing to also drop five depth charges on it.
UIT-22 under attack
His Catalina sustained much damage and had to return to base, but Wing Commander ESS "Gar" Nash had arrived, and he dropped six depth charges on top of submarine when it surfaced, sinking it. All 46 on board were killed.
Attack on German U-boats, 1944. Aerial attack on the Italian submarine, believed to be ex-Alpino Bagnolini, now German UIT 22, on its way to Penang, March 11, 1944. The submarine did not reach its port bound for, but was sunk near the Cape of Good Hope. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives
1968: Dirkie Uys, this motor-powered vessel wrecked at Cape Infanta in the Western Cape.
1971: Gansie Een, this motor-powered fishing vessel wrecked opposite Die Baken near Arniston/Waenhuiskrans in the Western Cape. One life was lost because of the wrecking.
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