Cargo vessel · 1910–1917 · Waterford, Ireland

SS Bandon

Friday the 13th lived up to its reputation. On 13 April 1917, the SS Bandon struck a mine from German submarine UC-44 off Mine Head while sailing from Liverpool to Cork. The blast beside the engine room killed 28 crew; only 4 survived, including Captain Kelly.

In a grim twist, UC-44 herself was destroyed just four months later by one of her own mines off Dunmore East, with her commander Kurt Tebbenjohanns as the sole survivor. The Bandon wreck lies badly broken up at 33-34 metres, oriented east-west. INFOMAR multibeam surveyed. Built in 1910 by Swan Hunter, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 81.1 metres long.

War grave.

StatusWar grave
Type
Cargo vessel
Year built
1910Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd., Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Lost
April 13th, 1917Mine (UC-44)
Casualties
28World War I
Length
81.1 m11.3 m beam
Depth
33–34 m
Location
Waterford, IrelandCeltic Sea

3 of 7 facts above are cited in Sources below.

Deeper than 108 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.

  • Lives lost: 28 shown; range in sources 3–28. Other published figures exist (why sources disagree).

History and LossLost April 13th, 1917 · Mine (UC-44) · World War I · Waterford, Ireland.

Carrying general cargo from Liverpool to Cork on 13 April 1917, the SS Bandon hit a mine 2.5 miles SW of Mine Head. The German submarine UC-44, under Kurt Tebbenjohanns, had laid it, and it exploded against her port side next to the engine room. Of her crew, 28 died and just 4 lived, Captain Kelly among them.

The irony was grim: off Dunmore East on 4 August 1917, UC-44 was herself blown apart by one of her own mines, and Tebbenjohanns alone came out alive. In September 1917 the Royal Navy raised the wreck of UC-44.

Built 1910 by Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd., Newcastle-upon-Tyne; 7 years in service. Lost April 13th, 1917, Mine (UC-44) during World War I.

28lives lost on April 13th, 1917.

Condition of the WreckBroken, lying E-W, bow pointed E-SE, in 33–34 m.

Intactness

Badly broken up on the seabed. Orientated almost E-W with bow pointed E-SE. INFOMAR multibeam surveyed.

Notable Features

  • INFOMAR multibeam surveyed
  • War grave — 28 crew killed
  • UC-44 that laid the mine was herself destroyed by own mine 4 months later
  • More challenging conditions than nearby SS Folia

Regulations and RestrictionsWar grave.

This is a war grave, where human remains may be present. Protected wreck (over 100 years old) under the National Monuments Acts (National Monuments Service).

Additional Details13 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.

Builder
Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd., Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Propulsion
Steam
Loss date
April 13th, 1917
Conflict / event
World War I
Latitude
51.95° N
Longitude
7.58° W
Water body
Celtic Sea
Protection regime
Protected automatically under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2014: all wrecks over 100 years old in Irish waters are protected, and underwater archaeological objects are protected irrespective of age.
War grave
Yes
Protected
No
Permit required
No
Condition
Broken
Orientation
E-W, bow pointed E-SE

Sources and VerificationEvery cited fact on this page traces to a published source.

  • INFOMAR Shipwrecks © Geological Survey Ireland and Marine Institute. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.

A further 5 fields were derived from the wreck’s recorded position rather than taken from a source.

Licences and credits for the open data used on this site are on the Attribution page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SS Bandon?

SS Bandon is the wreck of a cargo vessel, off Waterford, Ireland, at 34 metres. SS Bandon struck a mine in 1917.

How deep is the SS Bandon?

SS Bandon lies at 33 to 34 metres, 5 miles south of Helvic Head / 5 km south of Mine Head, Co. Waterford.

How did the SS Bandon sink?

SS Bandon struck a mine on April 13th, 1917 during World War I, off Waterford, Ireland. 28 people lost their lives.

Is the SS Bandon protected?

Yes. SS Bandon is protected: protected wreck (over 100 years old) under the National Monuments Acts (National Monuments Service). SS Bandon is recorded as a war grave.