Warship · 1908–1917 · Donegal, Ireland
SS Laurentic
Also known as Laurentic, HMHS Laurentic.
SS Laurentic, a British warship built in 1908 and mined in 1917, lies at 20–42 metres off Donegal, Ireland. The site is a designated war grave.
Twenty-five bars of gold remain unaccounted for. Between 1917 and 1924, Royal Navy salvage divers recovered 3,186 of the 3,211 gold ingots carried by the SS Laurentic -- 43 tonnes of bullion worth GBP 5 million at the time, financing British war purchases in North America.
The White Star Line passenger liner, converted to an Armed Merchant Cruiser, struck two mines laid by U-80 off Fanad Head on 25 January 1917, sinking with the loss of 354 lives in temperatures of minus 9 degrees Celsius. The wreck at approximately 40 metres off Lough Swilly is heavily collapsed from both natural deterioration and years of intensive salvage.
- Type
- WarshipBritish
- Year built
- 1908Harland and Wolff, Belfast
- Lost
- January 25th, 1917Mine
- Casualties
- 354World War I
- Tonnage
- 14,892 GRTsteam
- Length
- 172.2 m20.7 m beam
- Depth
- 20–42 m
- Location
- Donegal, IrelandInner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland
4 of 8 facts above are cited in Sources below.
Deeper than 137 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.
- Lives lost: 354 (most-cited figure); range in sources 350–470. Other published figures exist (why sources disagree).
- Position: Published positions differ between sources; the position shown follows the position policy. Other published figures exist (why sources disagree).
History and LossLost January 25th, 1917 · Mine · World War I · Donegal, Ireland.
On 25 January 1917, the Laurentic departed Buncrana in Lough Swilly bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia, carrying 3,211 gold ingots in her strong rooms. Shortly after departure, she struck two mines that had been laid by the German submarine U-80 off Fanad Head. The explosions knocked out the ship's electrical system, plunging her into darkness. She sank rapidly, listing to port.
Of the 475 people aboard, only 121 survived. The extreme cold — air temperature was -9°C — killed many who made it into lifeboats.
Built 1908 by Harland and Wolff, Belfast; 9 years in service, also recorded as Laurentic and HMHS Laurentic. Lost January 25th, 1917, mine during World War I.
The Voyage
- Last voyage
- Buncrana to Liverpool
- Final port
- Buncrana
- Destination
- Liverpool
- Cargo
- 43 tons of gold ingots (3,211 bars), general cargo
Condition of the WreckBroken, in 20–42 m, on gravel.
Intactness
Heavily collapsed. The wreck has been extensively salvaged and worked by Royal Navy divers between 1917 and 1924. Much of the structure has been broken up by both salvage operations and natural deterioration.
Notable Features
- Gold salvage history — 22 bars still unaccounted for
- Tangled wreckage field
- Part of Malin Head wreck concentration
Regulations and RestrictionsWar grave · Protected site.
This is a war grave, where human remains may be present and a legally protected site. Protected wreck (over 100 years old) under the National Monuments Acts (National Monuments Service).
Strict - no artefact removal; 22 gold bars remain unrecovered.
Additional Details17 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.
- Nationality
- British
- Flag
- United Kingdom
- Builder
- Harland and Wolff, Belfast
- Propulsion
- Steam
- Loss date
- January 25th, 1917
- Conflict / event
- World War I
- Machinery
- Triple-screw combination: one low-pressure turbine, two reciprocating engines
- Latitude
- 55.28° N
- Longitude
- 7.58° W
- Water body
- Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland
- Protection regime
- Protected under Irish law as the wreck lies in Irish territorial waters
- Artefact restrictions
- Strict - no artefact removal; 22 gold bars remain unrecovered
- War grave
- Yes
- Protected
- Yes
- Permit required
- No
- Condition
- Broken
- Seabed
- Gravel
Sources and VerificationEvery cited fact on this page traces to a published source.
- govisitinishowen.comgovisitinishowen.com · Secondary source10 facts
- shipindex.orgshipindex.org · Secondary source6 facts
- masonicgreatwarproject.org.ukmasonicgreatwarproject.org.uk · Secondary source5 facts
- shippingwondersoftheworld.comshippingwondersoftheworld.com · Secondary source5 facts
- westernfrontassociation.comwesternfrontassociation.com · Secondary source5 facts
- ggarchives.comggarchives.com · Secondary source4 facts
- greatships.netgreatships.net · Secondary source4 facts
- liverpoolmuseums.org.ukliverpoolmuseums.org.uk · Secondary source4 facts
- towermuseumcollections.comtowermuseumcollections.com · Secondary source4 facts
- numa.netnuma.net · Secondary source3 facts
- norwayheritage.comnorwayheritage.com · Secondary source2 facts
- thebluejackets.co.ukthebluejackets.co.uk · Secondary source2 facts
- DiveBuddy.com / Mevagh Divingdivebuddy.com · Secondary source1 fact
- Irish Shipwrecksirishshipwrecks.com · Secondary source1 fact
- Irish Underwater Councildiving.ie · Club or operator7 facts
- Mevagh Divingmevaghdiving.com · Club or operator4 facts
- Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org · Background reading12 facts
Background reading is listed for context and is not counted as a citation for the facts above.
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 Laurentic?
SS Laurentic is the wreck of a warship, off Donegal, Ireland, at 42 metres. SS Laurentic struck a mine in 1917.
How deep is the SS Laurentic?
SS Laurentic lies at 20 to 42 metres, Mouth of Lough Swilly, near Fanad Head, County Donegal.
How did the SS Laurentic sink?
SS Laurentic struck a mine on January 25th, 1917 during World War I, off Donegal, Ireland. 354 people lost their lives.
Is the SS Laurentic protected?
Yes. SS Laurentic is protected: protected wreck (over 100 years old) under the National Monuments Acts (National Monuments Service). SS Laurentic is recorded as a war grave.