Passenger ship · 1899–1918 · Anglesey, United Kingdom

SS Cork

Also known as Cork, SS City of Cork.

Two torpedoes, five minutes, twelve dead. On 26 January 1918 the SS Cork, built for the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company's cross-channel trade, was on her way across the Irish Sea from Dublin to Liverpool with sheep, horses and cattle aboard when SM U-103 attacked. One torpedo struck her engine room. A second hit close to the foremast and wrecked a lifeboat, taking away any margin for escape.

Barely five minutes after she was hit she had gone, nine nautical miles northeast of Point Lynas, Anglesey, and seven passengers and five crew went with her. She lies upright and largely intact in the Irish Sea at 48 metres, a well-preserved record of cross-channel commerce in the early 20th century.

StatusWar grave
Type
Passenger shipBritish
Year built
1899Blackwood & Gordon
Lost
January 26th, 1918Torpedo
Casualties
12World War I
Tonnage
1,232 GRTsteam
Length
79.3 m10.4 m beam
Depth
20–48 m
Location
Anglesey, United KingdomIrish Sea

4 of 8 facts above are cited in Sources below.

Deeper than 146 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.

History and LossLost January 26th, 1918 · Torpedo · World War I · Anglesey, United Kingdom.

SM U-103 attacked the SS Cork on 26 January 1918 as she made her run from Dublin to Liverpool. Both torpedoes hit her port side, one straight after the other: the first in the engine room, the second close to the foremast, where it wrecked one of her lifeboats. Her crew managed to get only two boats away before she sank, barely five minutes after she was first hit. The dead numbered seven passengers and five crew.

Built 1899 by Blackwood & Gordon; 19 years in service, also recorded as Cork and SS City of Cork. Lost January 26th, 1918, torpedo during World War I.

12lives lost on January 26th, 1918.

The Voyage

Last voyage
Cork to Fishguard

Condition of the Wreckin 20–48 m.

Intactness

Reports describe her as largely intact, sitting upright on the bottom of the Irish Sea at 48 metres.

Notable Features

  • Upright and largely intact at 48m
  • Sank in under 5 minutes
  • Two torpedoes — engine room and foremast
  • Dublin-Liverpool cross-channel cattle ferry
  • Cargo of sheep, horses and cattle

Regulations and RestrictionsWar grave.

This is a war grave, where human remains may be present.

Additional Details12 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.

Nationality
British
Flag
United Kingdom
Builder
Blackwood & Gordon
Propulsion
Steam
Loss date
January 26th, 1918
Conflict / event
World War I
Latitude
53.54° N
Longitude
4.19° W
Water body
Irish Sea
War grave
Yes
Protected
No
Permit required
No

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

Background reading is listed for context and is not counted as a citation for the facts above.

  • Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © Crown copyright and database right.

A further 4 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 Cork?

SS Cork is the wreck of a passenger ship, off Anglesey, United Kingdom, at 48 metres. SS Cork was torpedoed in 1918.

How deep is the SS Cork?

SS Cork lies at 20 to 48 metres, Off the south Cork coast, near Roches Point.

How did the SS Cork sink?

SS Cork was torpedoed on January 26th, 1918 during World War I, off Anglesey, United Kingdom. 12 people lost their lives.

Is the SS Cork protected?

Yes. SS Cork is recorded as a war grave.