USSYF-415

YF-415was a coveredlighterin service with the United States Navy duringWorld War II.It was accidentally sunk on May 11, 1944, while disposing of surplus explosive ordnance nearBoston Harbor.

Early career

YF-415was built at theAmerican Shipbuilding CompanyinBuffalo, New York.She was completed and placed in service in September 1943. She was 132 feet long and could carry cargo up to 250 tons.She operated in and aroundBoston, Massachusetts.

Loss

On May 10, 1944, she sailed to theHingham Naval Ammunition DepotinHingham, Massachusetts,a few miles south of Boston on thesouth shoreofCape Cod Bay.She was commanded by ChiefBoatswain's MateLouis Brunswick Tremblay. Her mission was to pick up surplus ordnance and dispose of it in deep water. She was loaded with 150 tons of 5 and 3-inch projectiles and other ordnance. There were thirty sailors on board - fourteen of her regular crew and sixteen African-American sailors from the naval ammunition depot to assist in the disposal of the munitions.

At 11:30 AM on May 11, the crew began to dispose of the ordnance and disposed of about two thirds of the ordnance without incident. The next group of munitions were rockets, which safety regulations required that the matches attached to the rockets be removed first, in order to ensure they would not be accidentally ignited. Apparently, the crew ofYF-415was not briefed on this procedure.

At 12:30 PM, there was an explosion, caused by one of the rockets detonating, which engulfed the port side of the ship in flames which began to spread throughout the vessel. The sailors on boardYF-415quickly abandoned ship and clung to floating debris. A total of fourteen men, one of whom later died of his injuries, were rescued by the patrol yachtUSSZircon,with sixteen being lost withYF-415.

The investigation of the incident called for improved safety protocols, including having similar missions conducted by a towed barge and making life preservers more readily accessible.

The wreck ofYF-415was discovered by diver Bob Foster on November 3, 2002.On May 12, 2012, there was a ceremony in honor of the sailors who died onYF-415.There is a memorial stone and flagpole located inBare Cove Park,inHingham, Massachusettsmemorializing the crew.