Cargo vessel · 1944–1945 · Devon, United Kingdom
SS James Eagan Layne
Also known as James Eagan Layne, JEL.
SS James Eagan Layne, an American cargo vessel built in 1944 and torpedoed in 1945, lies at 10–24 metres off Devon, United Kingdom.
This American Liberty ship was torpedoed by U-1195 off Eddystone Reef in March 1945 — one of the very last U-boat kills of the war — and sank in Whitsand Bay after an unsuccessful tow, mercifully without any loss of life. The structure teems with life: pollack shoal around the superstructure, conger eels lurk in the hull plating, and spider crabs carpet the decking in season.
- Type
- Cargo vesselAmerican
- Year built
- 1944Delta Shipbuilding Corporation, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Lost
- March 21st, 1945Torpedo
- Casualties
- 0World War II
- Tonnage
- 7,176 GRTsteam
- Depth
- 10–24 m
- Location
- Devon, United KingdomEnglish Channel
5 of 7 facts above are cited in Sources below.
Deeper than 65 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.
History and LossLost March 21st, 1945 · Torpedo · World War II · Devon, United Kingdom.
U-1195, under Kptlt. Ernst Cordes, torpedoed her off Eddystone Reef in one of the last U-boat attacks of the war. She was taken in tow but went down in Whitsand Bay, and nobody was killed. The ship bore the name of James Eagan Layne, who had served as second engineer aboard the Esso Baton Rouge and died when U-123 sank that ship in 1943.
Built 1944 by Delta Shipbuilding Corporation, New Orleans, Louisiana; 1 years in service, also recorded as James Eagan Layne and JEL. Lost March 21st, 1945, torpedo during World War II.
Condition of the WreckBroken, in 10–24 m, on sand.
Intactness
She rests on a flat, sandy bottom where fish and other marine life have made a haven of her.
Notable Features
- Liberty ship
Additional Details14 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.
- Nationality
- American
- Flag
- United States
- Builder
- Delta Shipbuilding Corporation, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Propulsion
- Steam
- Loss date
- March 21st, 1945
- Conflict / event
- World War II
- Latitude
- 50.3267° N
- Longitude
- 4.2452° W
- Water body
- English Channel
- War grave
- No
- Protected
- No
- Permit required
- No
- Condition
- Broken
- Seabed
- Sand
Sources and VerificationEvery cited fact on this page traces to a published source.
- UK Hydrographic Officedatahub.admiralty.co.uk · Official record6 facts
- BBCbbc.co.uk · Press4 facts
- SHIPS Projectshipsproject.org · Secondary source11 facts
- divers-guide.comdivers-guide.com · Secondary source8 facts
- uboat.netuboat.net · Secondary source6 facts
- eastcornwalldivers.co.ukeastcornwalldivers.co.uk · Secondary source5 facts
- chippenhamdivers.co.ukchippenhamdivers.co.uk · Secondary source3 facts
- divesitedirectory.co.uk (archived)divesitedirectory.co.uk · Secondary source3 facts
- scubadiving.com (archived)scubadiving.com · Secondary source3 facts
- submerged.co.uksubmerged.co.uk · Secondary source3 facts
- underseaimages.wordpress.comunderseaimages.wordpress.com · Secondary source3 facts
- bbc.combbc.com · Secondary source2 facts
- Aquanautsaquanauts.co.uk · Secondary source1 fact
- duikersgids.nlduikersgids.nl · Secondary source1 fact
- Divernetdivernet.com · Club or operator9 facts
- Plymouth Diversplymouthdivers.org.uk · Club or operator4 facts
- Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org · Background reading7 facts
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 James Eagan Layne?
SS James Eagan Layne is the wreck of a cargo vessel, off Devon, United Kingdom, at 24 metres. SS James Eagan Layne was torpedoed in 1945.
How deep is the SS James Eagan Layne?
SS James Eagan Layne lies at 10 to 24 metres, Whitsand Bay, Plymouth, 540m east of HMS Scylla.
How did the SS James Eagan Layne sink?
SS James Eagan Layne was torpedoed on March 21st, 1945 during World War II, off Devon, United Kingdom. No lives were lost.