SSBenwood

A diver checks out the structure of the ribs of the ship.
History
Name	SSBenwood
Owner	Joseph Hoult & Co. Ltd,Liverpool(1909–1914) Steam Transport Co. Ltd. (Joseph Hoult & Co. Ltd.), Liverpool (1914–1915) Adam Steamship Co. Ltd. (Adam Bros.),Aberdeen(1915–1918) London-American Maritime Trading Co. (Petersen & Co.), London (1918–1923) Skjelbreds Red. A/S, Kristiansand (1923–1940) Kr. Knudsen (1940–1942)
Builder	Craig, Taylor & Co Ltd.,Stockton on Tees
Launched	27 November 1909
Completed	1 January 1910
Fate	Sank on 9 April 1942
General characteristics
Type	Freighter
Length	345 ft (105 m)
Beam	51.2 ft (15.6 m)
Depth	25.4 ft (7.7 m)
Propulsion	T3cyl (24, 40, 66 x 45in), 342nhp, 1 screw
Crew	38
Armament	12 rifles, one 4-inch gun, sixdepth chargesand 36 bombs

SSBenwoodwas asteamcargo shipof the early twentieth century. Built by Craig, Taylor & Co Ltd.,Stockton on Tees,she entered service withJoseph Hoult & Co. Ltd,Liverpool.She passed through several owners, before being lost in a collision off the coast ofKey Largo,Floridain 1942. Her wreck is now a popular dive site.

Loss

The Norwegian merchant freighterBenwood(360'x51') was under the command of Captain Torbjørn Skjelbred on the night of 9 April 1942. She was on a routine voyage fromTampa Bay,FloridatoNorfolk, Virginiacarrying a load ofphosphate rock.That same evening, theRobert C. Tuttle(544'x70') was en route toAtreco, Texas,under the command of Captain Martin Johansen. Due to the threat of attack by GermanU-boatsin the area, the two ships were completely blacked out, each keeping the Florida coastal lights three miles abeam (Benwood) and one and a half miles abeam (Robert C. Tuttle). It is reported that at 12:45 a.m. theRobert C. Tuttlesighted a black object ahead of the ship and turned starboard after signaling "I intend to turn starboard." with one blow of the ship's whistle. There was no response from the other ship. At 12:50 a.m., theBenwoodreported to have sighted a black object off her starboard. She sounded the ship's whistle twice indicating, "I intend to turn port." There was no response. It is believed that the two ships were now unwittingly on a collision course with each other. Just before the collision, Captain Skjelbred made last-minute efforts to avoid theRobert C. Tuttleby ordering the engine full astern (fastest reverse). Moments later, the bow of theBenwoodpunched into theRobert C. Tuttlejust aft of the port side bow, above the waterline. This caused the bow of theBenwoodto collapse upon itself. TheBenwoodbegan taking on water at a brisk rate. Captain Skjelbred turned hard for shore, attempting to save the ship by grounding, but some time between 1:10 and 2:00 a.m. was forced to abandon ship. TheBenwoodcame to rest stern-to on a sandy slope in approximately 25 feet (7.6 m) to 45 feet (14 m) of water betweenDixie Shoals(to the north) andFrench Reef(to the south) off ofKey Largo, Florida.One person was killed in the sinking.

After the sinking

On 10 April 1942, the crew of thesalvage tugWilletexamined the wreck and determined that thekeelof theBenwoodwas broken, and she was a total loss. However, her superstructure and cargo ofphosphate rockappear to have been salvaged. Her stern section, once considered a hazard to navigation, seems to have been mostly obliterated by explosions of an unknown type. This salvaging on the ship over the years promptedJohn Pennekamp Coral Reef State Parkto form a protection program in 1959 to prevent further damage to the historical wreckage. Today, theBenwoodis a protected resource under theFlorida Keys National Marine Sanctuary,which was formed in 1975. Since her sinking, the Benwood has become anartificial reef,providing the only high-profile reef in the immediate vicinity. She is popular with recreational dives, particularly as anight divesite. She lies in 55 feet of sea water withhullplates found in the sand around the perimeter.

Gallery

• 
  Goatfishon Benwood wreck
• 
  Gorgonia flabellumon Benwood wreck
• 
  Christmas tree wormonbrain coral
• 
  Grunts
• 
  Soft coral

See also

• USSSpiegel Groveshipwreck
• Vandenberg shipwreck

References

• "Screw Steamer Benwood".teesbuilt.co.uk.Retrieved27 March2019.

External links

• Media related toBenwood (ship, 1910)at Wikimedia Commons
• John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
• Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
• The Benwood Wreck