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SS IRON CROWN
LocationBass Strait, 44 miles SSW of Gabo Island VHR NumberS340 Date lost04/06/1942 Year of construction1922 Official number151806 |
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Statement of Significance
The Iron Crown is historically significant as one of only four World War II shipwrecks in Victoria. It is one of Victoria's worst shipwrecks in terms of loss of life, and represents the importance of Bass Strait as an international shipping lane and Australia as a supplier of raw materials for the war effort. It is the only ship to have been torpedoed by a submarine in Victorian waters.
| Physical Description | |
|---|---|
| Construction Material | Steel |
| Hull Details | Moulded depth 26' 1", freeboard 2' 4 3/4", draught 23' 1", steel deck and shelter deck, web framings, longitudinal framing, Anchors & chains proved, WB - cellular double bottom under engine 115', 145' overall, 820 ton; collision bulkhead to shade deck, fo |
| Propulsion | Steam - Screw |
| Engine Specification | Thompson & Co. Castlemaine Pty Ltd. |
| Engine Builder | Triple expansion engine 3cyl. 25" 41" 68" x 45" stroke, 180lb boiler, 3 single faced boilers, 387 NHP, 9 corrugated surfaces, 141 sq.ft grate 53.6 sq.ft heating surface |
| Length / Breadth / Depth | 331.0 Feet / 47.9 Feet / 27.1 Feet |
| History | |
| Built Date | 1922 |
| Built Port / Country | Commonwealth Government Dockyard, Williamstown,Victoria / Australia |
| Registration Number | 36 in 1923 |
| Registration Port / Country | Sydney / Australia |
| Former Details of Registration | 8 in 1923 |
| Details |
The fourth of Victoria's World War II wrecks (After the SS Cambridge, MV City of Rayville, and HMAS Goorangai) was the SS Iron Crown, which was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine resulting in the loss ... more |
| Voyage Details | |
| Date Lost | 04/06/1942 |
| Voyage | from Whyalla, SA to Newcastle, NSW |
| Cargo |
Manganese ore, iron ore |
| Owner | Australian Commonwealth Shipping Board (March 1923)Interstate Steamships Pty. Ltd./ Scott Fell & Co. (November 1923-1940). |
| Master of Vessel | Capt. A. McLellan |
| Weather conditions |
dusk, clear |
| Cause of Loss |
Torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I- 24 |
| Further Details | |
| Number of Passengers | 0 |
| Number of Crew Members | 43 |
| Comments on Crew Members |
Survivors George Fisher (18, deck boy), N. McKelvie (trimmer, Port Adelaide), A.A. Sabiston (57, able seaman, Newcastle), Bruce Miel (4th Engineer, Keswick), James Reach (greaser, Wickham NSW) |