MWDC

Description: Tug; Iron
Dimensions:   length - 117 ft. 3 in.   width - 23 ft.   depth - 15 ft. 4 in.
     Tonnage:     gross - 278        other -
Propulsion: Steam; Propeller
Machinery: 750 Indicated Horse Power, 2 Cylinder Compound Steam Engine with cylinder diameters of 22 inches, 40 inches and a stroke of 28 inches; 1 Single ended Scotch Boiler, Coal fired.
        Cargo:

The Shipwreck

  Date Sunk: September 13, 1942.
         Cause: Collision.
     Location: Plymouth, east of Manomet Point.
Coordinates:    Latitude, 41^o - 56' - 16"N   Longitude,70^o - 29' - 33"W
         Loran: 13956.8 and 44093.5

    Shipwrecks of the Second World War are very difficult to write about. More often than not their sinking was censored from local press coverage to avoid alarming the general public of possible enemy action so close to home.
    The Mars sank in collision with the coastal tanker Bidwell. The tanker sheared off the tug's bow and she quickly went down in 120 feet of water.

Dive Site Conditions

    Depth in feet:   maximum - 125;    minimum - 95
Visibility in feet:     average -

    Except for the top of the wheelhouse, the tug lies upright and intact on a hard clay bottom. The pilothouse can be found on the bottom to starboard of the wreck.

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for additional navigation information.

Historical Background

Constructed:    year - 1890;    where - Camden, New Jersey
                      builder - J.H. Dialogue & Sons
Construction details: 1 Deck
Crew: ;     Master:
Owners: Martin Marine Transportation Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Home or Hailing Port: Wilmington, Delaware
Former Name(s) and date(s):
Official number: 92153      Country: U.S.A.
Other Comments: Built to haul coal laden barges the vessel was sold to a Philadelphia Company in 1920 and then again in 1936 to a Wilmington, Delaware, Company.

Salvage
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Sources:
Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks; Berman, 1972
Historical maritime Group of New England; September 1, 1989
MapTech Mapserver
Non-Submarine Contacts; H.O.Pub.120 Vol.II, 1968
The Fisherman, magazine; August 17, 1989 / April 25, 1991
The Record, "American Lloyds", American Bureau of Shipping; 1943
WestWind Explorer; MetroWest Dive Club, October/1990, August/1991
Wrecks Below; Luther, 1958
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Copyright © 2000 by Christopher C. Hugo Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources All Rights Reserved

Copyright © 2000 by Christopher C. Hugo
Massachusetts Board of Underwater Archaeological Resources
All Rights Reserved