Monday, December 18, 2023

NEW SITES BEING USED FOR POSTS

 Most new content is now being posted at the South Australian Archaeology Society's website at https://stevereynolds.wixsite.com/website and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/suhrsa/ . Further posts are being made to the website at Marine Life Society of South Australia Inc. – Understanding, enjoying and caring for our oceans (mlssa.org.au). Look for relevant categories such as Maritime History, Shipwrecks, Anchors, etc..

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Two Japanese Aircraft Carriers found deep in the Pacific

Although I'm not keen on deep-water wrecks, the wreck of the Japanese aircraft carrier Kaga was discovered in October 2019. Another wreck thought to be either the Japanese aircraft carrier Akagi or the Soryu has been found almost 5 1/2km deep in the Pacific Ocean. The crew of deep-sea explorers looking for WW2 warships were using an autonomous underwater vehicle equipped with sonar when the found this latest carrier over 2000km NW of Pearl Harbor. The vessel is said to have gone down in the Battle of Midway.

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

USS Grunion's bow has been discovered

According to the web page found at https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/uss-grunions-bow-is-discovered-off-the-coast-of-alaska-nearly-80-years-after-the-submarine-sunk-during-wwii/ar-AAFqQWJ?ocid=spartanntp , the Gato-class submarine USS Grunion's bow has been discovered off the coast of Alaska nearly 80 years after sinking during WWII

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Discovery of the wreck of the Nyora


The steam tug Nyora, sunk about 50kms off of Cape Jaffa in 1917 whilst towing the schooner Astoria. The Nyora was a single screw steamship built in 1909 by J.P. Rennoldson & Sons in South Shields. Whilst owned by Huddart Parker & Co Pty. Ltd, she foundered west of Kingston, SA after passing Kangaroo Island on a voyage to the eastern states with the auxiliary schooner Astoria in tow. The location for the wreck of the Nyora remained unknown until recently when Steve Saville found it. Video footage can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GqqHpfhmA8&feature=youtu.be . See https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/sa-business-journal/tale-of-tragedy-and-survival-emerges-from-discovery-of-nyora-tugboat-shipwreck-in-south-australias-south-east/news-story/3f92308ad308266034afc999d6006ba9?fbclid=IwAR3zJHX1EFk4V66GhZlGDhxyUuGa5b2G1FtQkOYuoLZod8OAhlNYqcnux-Q for further details. Pictured is a memorial at Cape Jaffa for the lost crew of the Nyora.

Monday, October 15, 2018

Anchors around Port Adelaide

20-30 anchors located around the Port Adelaide area are currently being documented for inclusion in an anchor trail under a Port Adelaide Enfield Council grant.

The Wreck of the Guldax




The wooden barque Guldax was wrecked (due to a captain’s error?) whilst she was anchored in Gulf St Vincent, waiting to pull into port during early September 1887.  The 556-ton Guldax was 11 years old at the time. She had been built at Lillesand, a municipality in Aust-Agden county, Norway by OP Knudsens Verft for Krogh & Henschien in 1878. She had left Gottenburg, Sweden, on 17th May 1887, bound for Melbourne. On 2nd September 1887, she was under sail just off Normanville between the jetty and Gorge Creek. It is said that her crew had underestimated the nature of the reefs in the area. She ran aground about ½ mile from shore, nearly one mile south-west of the Normanville jetty. The assistant harbourmaster at Normanville beach reported by telegram to the marine board that the Guldax had anchored very close inshore and that she was probably unable to get clear unless the wind turned west. She was said to be making no signals and was deeply laden. A later telegram stated, “barque ashore, two boats trying to land, all hands appear to have left her, sea running high”. Her bow was firmly stuck on a reef and the crew abandoned ship. The Port Adelaide Tug Company sent the steamer Yatala to her aid. With 11 ft of water in her hold within a week, the Guldax was lying on her side. One week later, she drifted closer to shore. Her structure was severely damaged. The wreck was heavily salvaged at the time.





(Image source: https://www.facebook.com/heritagesouthaustralia/photos/a.833835206729659/1852840791495757/?type=3&theater )


Tuesday, October 9, 2018

Plans to scuttle HMAS Darwin off Tasmania

There are plans to scuttle the decommissioned HMAS Darwin as a dive wreck off the East Coast of Tasmania. There is, however, a group of people who are opposed to the proposal.