SS Iberian (1900)

SS Iberian was a British cargo ship that was torpedoed by SM U-28 in the Atlantic Ocean 9 nautical miles (17 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock (51°15′N 9°36′W) while she was travelling from Manchester, United Kingdom to Boston, United States with a rich cargo.[1]

History
Name: Iberian
Owner: Leyland Frederick & Co. Ltd.
Port of registry: Liverpool, United Kingdom
Route: Manchester - Boston
Builder: Sir James Laing & Sons, Ltd.
Yard number: 576
Launched: 1900
Completed: 1900
In service: 1900
Out of service: 30 July 1915
Identification: 113367
Fate: Torpedoed and sunk
General characteristics
Type: Cargo ship
Tonnage: 5,223 GRT
Length: 133.2 metres (437 ft 0 in)
Beam: 14.9 metres (48 ft 11 in)
Depth: 9.1 metres (29 ft 10 in)
Installed power: triple expansion engine
Propulsion: Single screw propeller
Speed: 12 knots

Construction

Iberian was constructed in 1900 at the Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd. shipyard in Sunderland, United Kingdom. She was launched and completed in 1900. The ship was 133.2 metres (437 ft 0 in) long, with a beam of 14.9 metres (48 ft 11 in) and a depth of 9.1 metres (29 ft 10 in). The ship was assessed at 5,223 GRT. She had a triple expansion engine driving a single screw propeller and the engine was rated at 470 nhp.[2]

Sinking

While Iberian was travelling from Manchester, United Kingdom to Boston, United States with a rich cargo. She was spotted by SM U-28 in the Atlantic Ocean 9 nautical miles (17 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock, Ireland. SM U-28 fired a torpedo at the Iberian which hit her stern killing 7 crew. Iberian sank stern first beneath the waves, officers from the U-boat reported that the steamer sank so swiftly that its bow stuck up almost vertically into the air before finally sinking shortly after the attack.[3]

Mysterious sea monster

However 25 seconds after Iberian sank beneath the waves at a depth estimated to be 915 metres (3,002 ft 0 in), her boilers exploded and send not only pieces of debris to the surface, but according to an urban legend, a gigantic aquatic animal as well.[4]

The myth goes SM U-28's captain, chief engineer, navigator, helmsman, engineer officer and an able seaman were in the conning tower of the submarine. They all witnessed a crocodile-like creature writhing and struggling 25 metres (82 ft 0 in) high into the sky among the debris of the ship after Iberian's boilers exploded. The crew stated that the aquatic crocodile was about 20 metres (65 ft 7 in) long, with four limbs resembling large webbed feet, a long pointed tail and a head which also tapered to a point. Unfortunately the crew were not able to take a photograph, since the animal sank out of sight after just ten or fifteen seconds.[5]

The creature however was never seen again after this encounter and to this day there have not been any questions answered about the creature's whereabouts or origin.

It is most likely the creature never existed, however. Despite popular wisdom, it was not recorded in the submarine's log, and the first time it was ever reported on 19 years later. The Captain had never spoken of it prior. All the alleged witnesses, except for the captain and one other, were Killed in action during the war. The other "witness" never spoke about it, even after the story became big.

Wreck

Iberian sank 9 nautical miles (17 km) south west of the Fastnet Rock, Ireland at a depth of about 104 metres (341 ft 2 in) (51°15′N 9°36′W). Why does this directly contradict the above section that states her boilers blew at a depth of 915 meters?

References
  1. Helgason, Guðmundur. "Ships hit during WWI: Steamer Iberian". German and Austrian U-boats of World War I - Kaiserliche Marine - Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  2. "Iberian Cargo Ship 1900-1915". Wrecksite.eu. 22 October 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  3. "U-28 Creature". Unknownexplorers.com. 2006. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  4. "Baron Von Forstner and the U28 sea serpent of July 1915". 11 December 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
  5. "U-28 Abomination". Cryptopia.us. 2002. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.