Cargo vessel · lost 1914 · Donegal, Ireland
SS Manchester Commerce
First blood from the Berlin minefield. On 23 October 1914, the German auxiliary cruiser SMS Berlin laid 200 mines off northwest Ireland on her very first wartime mission. Four days later, the SS Manchester Commerce sailed straight into them while bound from Manchester to Quebec. Fourteen crew died including the Master.
On the same day, the same minefield claimed a far more famous victim: the dreadnought battleship HMS Audacious.
- Type
- Cargo vesselBritish
- Lost
- October 27th, 1914Mine
- Casualties
- 14World War I
- Tonnage
- 5,363 GRTsteam
- Depth
- 83 m
- Location
- Donegal, IrelandInner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland
3 of 6 facts above are cited in Sources below.
Deeper than 175 of the 185 wrecks on the map with a recorded depth.
History and LossLost October 27th, 1914 · Mine · World War I · Donegal, Ireland.
On 27 October 1914, while bound from Manchester to Quebec, the Manchester Commerce struck a mine approximately 20 miles NE of Tory Island. The mine was from a field of 200 laid just four days earlier on 23 October 1914 by the German auxiliary cruiser SMS Berlin, which had been taken over by the Imperial German Navy in August 1914 and commissioned in October as an auxiliary cruiser and fast minelayer.
The Manchester Commerce was the first victim of Berlin's minefield. 14 crew were lost including the Master. On the same day, the same minefield claimed the far more famous victim HMS Audacious.
Lost October 27th, 1914, mine during World War I.
The Voyage
- Last voyage
- Manchester to Quebec
- Destination
- Quebec
Condition of the Wreckin 83–83 m.
Notable Features
- First victim of SMS Berlin minefield of 200 mines
- Same minefield sank HMS Audacious on same day
- SMS Berlin's first wartime mission
- Long boat transit from Donegal coast
- One of the deeper Malin Head area wrecks
Regulations and Restrictions
Protected wreck (over 100 years old) under the National Monuments Acts (National Monuments Service).
Additional Details12 further fields held for this wreck and not shown above.
- Nationality
- British
- Flag
- United Kingdom
- Builder
- Furness Withy & Co., West Hartlepool
- Propulsion
- Steam
- Loss date
- October 27th, 1914
- Conflict / event
- World War I
- Latitude
- 55.50° N
- Longitude
- 7.85° W
- Water body
- Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland
- War grave
- No
- Protected
- No
- Permit required
- No
Sources and VerificationEvery cited fact on this page traces to a published source.
- rte.ierte.ie · Secondary source3 facts
- Diving in Depthdivingindepth.co.uk · Secondary source1 fact
- Donegal Dailydonegaldaily.com · Secondary source1 fact
- Irish Shipwrecksirishshipwrecks.com · Secondary source1 fact
- naval-history.netnaval-history.net · Secondary source1 fact
- Rebreatherpro-Trainingrebreatherpro-training.com · Secondary source1 fact
- vliz.bevliz.be · Secondary source1 fact
- Mevagh Divingmevaghdiving.com · Club or operator6 facts
- Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org · Background reading1 fact
Background reading is listed for context and is not counted as a citation for the facts above.
A further 3 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 Manchester Commerce?
SS Manchester Commerce is the wreck of a cargo vessel, off Donegal, Ireland, at 83 metres. SS Manchester Commerce struck a mine in 1914.
How deep is the SS Manchester Commerce?
SS Manchester Commerce lies at approximately 83 metres, Approximately 20 miles NE of Tory Island.
How did the SS Manchester Commerce sink?
SS Manchester Commerce struck a mine on October 27th, 1914 during World War I, off Donegal, Ireland. 14 people lost their lives.
Is the SS Manchester Commerce protected?
Yes. SS Manchester Commerce is protected: protected wreck (over 100 years old) under the National Monuments Acts (National Monuments Service).