| More information : Wreck Site and Archaeological Remains:
Horizontal Datum: OGB (1)
Vertical Datum: LAT (17)
Position of fix: Echosounder (17)
17-MAY-1945: Stern 309.50 deg, 1.16m from Rame Chapel, bows 035 deg, 0.7 cables from stern, upperworks show above LW masts and funnel show at HW.
15-MAY-1953: Salvage operations taking place by MP Blik Ltd., Iceland.
28-MAR-1960: One mast visible, possibly the result of salvage operations.
15-AUG-1961: Still visible at all states of the tide, foremast is approximately 34ft high, wreck lies NE/SW top of stump mast is 21ft high and when this collapses the wreck will only show at lowest spring tides, no scour, general depth 57ft.
18-OCT-1967: Ocean Marine have salvaged the prop, condenser and prop shaft.
29-NOV-1967: Report that Receiver of Wreck states that the wreck has become dangerous due to recent salvage attempts on the engine mounts leaving the engines precariously balanced.
18-AUG-1969: Dived on in 80ft, owners are Maritime Administration of Dept. of Commerce, Washington.
16-AUG-1970: Wreck standing upright on the seabed, the front is intact except on the port side which is open and broken away, the front stands 25ft off the seabed. The wreck stands in a general depth of 75ft, mast still intact and solid and breaks the surface. The seabed rises at the front end of the wreck with no scour but the rear end has been blown and salvaged, no engines seen. The seabed is of sand and shells, the bows face the shore.
02-JAN-1973: Foremast still visible at all states of the tide. (1)
She lies upright on a sandy seabed but is dangerous due to salvage. (7)
The Department of Trade asked for tenders to disperse the wreck which lies in Whitsand Bay. The 136m wreck has posed a hazard to shipping since her sinking by a U-boat in March 1945. She now lies in 23m of water and is decorated with abundant marine life. To conform with Department of Trade Regulations she will need to be dispersed to give a minimum of 10m of clear water at low tide. (8)
Although several tenders have been received to disperse the wreck, a spokesman at Trinity House said that there are at present no plans to disperse her and that buoying would continue as before. (9)
A mattock head and two brass taps were reported to the Receiver of Wreck. (Droit A/101) (12)
A hand wheel for steam valves has been recovered from this wreck. (Droit A/311) (12)
Four 20mm shellcases recovered from this wreck. (Droit A/705)
(12)
A brass bilge strainer was recovered from this wreck, position 50 19.53N 004 14.70W. (Droit A/897) (12)
A pickaxe head recovered from this wreck. (Droit A/964) (12)
A valve recovered from this wreck, position 50 19.32N 004 04.42W. (Droit A/1539) (12)
A small brown ceramic pot 5cm high, possibly an ink well, recovered from this wreck, position 50 19.32N 004 04.42W. (Droit A/1769) (12)
A tap and a set of spanners recovered from this wreck off Plymouth. (Droit A/1837) (12)
A door lock recovered from this wreck off Plymouth. (Droit A/1840)
(12)
A metal weight recovered from this wreck, position 50 19.47N 004 14.61W. (Droit A/2231) (12)
4 x 20mm shell cases recovered from this wreck off Plymouth. (Droit A/2546) (12)
5 x 20mm AA shell cases recovered from this wreck, Whitsand Bay. (Droit A/2586) (12)
1 x 4.5" shell case, and 30 x 20mm shell cases recovered from this wreck, Whitsand Bay. (Droit A/2946) (12)
A brass name plate recovered from this wreck, position 50 19.32N 004 04.42W. (Droit A/2975) (12)
A 22" long pickaxe head recovered from this wreck, Whitsand Bay. (Droit A/3180) (12)
A metal bottle screw recovered from this wreck, position 50 19.32N 004 04.42W. (Droit A/3267) (12)
2 fittings and a wing nut recovered from this wreck, Whitsand Bay, west of Rame Head. (Droit A/3318) (12)
A shell case recovered from this wreck, Plymouth. (Droit A/3385)
(12)
A hose nozzle and a coupling recovered from this wreck off Plymouth. (Droit A/3682) (12)
An axe head recovered from this wreck, Whitsand Bay, at 22m depth. (Droit A/3836) (12)
A threshold plate recovered from this wreck, Plymouth. (Droit A/3921) (12)
A shell case recovered from this wreck, Whitsand Bay. (Droit A/4029) (12)
A steering standard recovered from this wreck, Whitsand Bay, Plymouth. (Droit A/4594) (12)
Foremast now collapsed, the stern part of the vessel lying to the south of the main structure. (14)
The mast has broken off and the engine has collapsed, with the bow 5m below the surface, towards amidships there is still the remains of her cargo. The stern section is 25m away from the main part of the wreck. (15)
Charted as the JAMES EAGAN LAYNE. (17)
2 x 20mm anti-aircraft shells marked 1943, recovered from the JAMES EAGAN LAYNE in 1995. (Droit 002/07) (18)
A white mug, manufactured by McNichol China, USA in 1943; An ink bottle made of clear glass, with a damaged rim; A timber plank measuring 2700 x 300 x 50mm. The plank is painted grey and is eroded. The objects were all recovered from the wreck of the JAMES EAGAN LANE. (Droit 094/11) (19)
Two brass valves, weighing approximately 40kg each, recovered from the wreck of the JAMES EAGAN LAYNE, in Whitsand Bay, approximately 5 miles west of Plymouth Sound. (Droit 064/01) (20)
A white porcelain mug, of utilitarian appearance, 82mm diameter, 92mm high, on base 'McNicol China Clarksburg, W VA 1943', and a 90 degree brass pipe elbow, recovered from the wreck of the JAMES EAGAN LAYNE, Brixham sector. (Droit 060/12) (22)
A brass door swivel door catch, 2.5" hook attached to a backplate, recovered from the wreck of the JAMES EAGAN LAYNE, Brixham sector. (Droit 086/14) (23)
A brass tap/seacock in concretion, 7cm x 13cm, with a slightly concreted thread, recovered from the wreck of the JAMES EAGAN LAYNE, Brixham sector. (Droit 136/14) (23)
An Ashcroft oil pressure gauge in a brass case with a perspex face, 5" diameter, weighing approximately 1kg, in poor condition, recovered from the wreck of the JAMES EAGAN LAYNE, Brixham sector. (Droit 313/14) (23)
A steel pickaxe head (14A109, marking?) recovered from the wreck of the JAMES EAGAN LAYNE, Brixham sector. (Droit 343/14) (23)
A pickaxe head recovered from the wreck of the JAMES EAGAN LAYNE, Brixham sector. (Droit 363/16) (24)
30 x steel rods, 400mm long, 10mm diameter, heavily corroded, flat one end, pointed the other, recovered from the wreck of the JAMES EAGAN LAYNE, Brixham sector. (Droit 031/17) (25)
40 x 400mm long steel rods, 10mm diameter, flat one end, pointed the other, weighing 250g each, heavily corroded, recovered from the wreck of the JAMES EAGAN LAYNE, Brixham sector. (Droit 079/18) (26)
A brass pole with a handle on the top, resembling the handle of a spade or small shovel, and a brown cylindrical object which appears to be rubber-coated, possibly a roller of some description, each weighing about 1kg, recovered from the wreck of the JAMES EAGAN LAYNE, Brixham sector. Either not associated or associated as part of the same item, as they resemble the possible remains of a grease pump. (Droit 177/19) (27)
An M1-1-5 optical gas mask, missing webbing, carry case and scrubber canister, rubber and glass intact, but rubber very rust-marked, especially on the inside, and copper fittings very corroded, recovered from the wreck of the JAMES EAGAN LAYNE, Brixham sector. (Droit 200/19) (27)
2 x 20mm cartridge cases recovered from the wreck of the JAMES EAGAN LAYNE, Brixham sector. (Droit 218/19) (27)
Wreck Event and Documentary Evidence:
JAMES EAGAN LAYNE was a Liberty Ship launched on 02-DEC-1944 into the Mississippi by the Delta Ship Building Co. She was the first vessel to be named after a merchant seaman who lost his life during the war. James Eagan Layne was the second assistant engineer on the Esso BATON ROUGE, sunk on 08-APR-1942. She was torpedoed on the starboard side between Nos.4 and 5 holds, 8 miles off the West Rutts on 21-MAR-1945 by U-1195. (2)(13)
American vessel of 7176 tons, bound Barry for Ghent, with US Army engineers' stores, torpedoed 50 13.30N 004 14W, beached 1 mile 300 degs Rame Head at 10.30pm, March 21. Salvage operations commenced May 12, 1953. Vessel to be salved for scrap. (4)
She foundered 1.16 miles from Rame Head at 10.30pm March 21st. Her upper works showed at low water and funnel and 4 masts showing at high water. Salvage operations on the cargo began in 1953 and were carried out by an Icelandic firm. (5)
Position of loss stated as "1 mile WNW of Whitsand Bay", [which in fact is inland.] (A position of loss as 1 mile WNW of Rame Head, in Whitsand Bay, would fit the description of the place of loss.) Name also spelt in error as JAMES EGAN LAYNE. (6)
Torpedoed by the German submarine U1195 (Cordes) while in convoy No. BTC 103. She carried a US Army military cargo of motorboats and timber. The men listed as passengers were the US Military Armed Guard (gunners). The convoy was in two lanes, this ship carrying the Vice-Commodore and was the lead vessel of the second column. The torpedo caused a great crack to appear in her hull; at the same time her propshaft was broken and the shaft tunnel flooded and her steering gear put out of action, Nos. 4 and 5 holds flooded, as did the engine room. She sank by the stern until the sea was between the mainmast and accommodation, when she steadied. She was abandoned 10 minutes after the attack and she was taken in tow by HMS FLAUNT and a minesweeper. (6)
JAMES EAGAN LAYNE torpedoed by U1195, Cordes, in position reported by the Allies as 50 13N 004 05W, no German vectors given. According to this source, U399, Buhse, and U246, Raabe, were also active in the area on the same day, and it is unclear which of the three ships U-boats attacked which vessel. (16)
Built: 1944 (6)
Builder: Delta Shipbuilding Co. (6)
HP: 2500 (6)
Boilers: 2 (6)
Propulsion: Screw driven, 3 cylinder triple expansion engine (6)
Armament: 1 bow and 1 stern gun; 5 anti-aircraft guns (6)
Master: Capt. William Sleek (6)
Crew: 42 (4)(6)
Passengers: 27 (4)(6) [gunners/armed guard]
Owner: US Navigation Co. Inc. (6)
Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss
Additional sources cited in Shipwreck Index of the British Isles:
The Liberty Ships, Sawyer 1970, p 83;
ACW p141;
Great Sea Rescues of the South West, p44
|