Carthaginian Wreck

Wreck No: W07211, Place of Loss: Donegal, Malin Head, 7km NW., Source of Coordinate: GSI Wreck Data_116, Description: UKHO Wreck No.006000368. The Carthaginian was a 4,444-ton steel steamship owned by the Allan Line Steamship Co. Ltd. of Govan, Glasgow. The vessel was built in 1884 by Govan Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. It was propelled by a 475 horsepower, compound steam engine and capable of attaining 14 knots in speed. The Carthaginian had a crew of 57, under the command of Captain A. Ogilvie, and could carry 596 passengers in three classes. Before the outbreak of hostilities in 1914 the vessel plied various transatlantic routes, typically out of Glasgow.

She was subsequently armed with a 4-inch stern gun. On 14 June 1917, while on a voyage from the Clyde to Montreal with general cargo, she struck a mine 2.5 miles northwest of Inishtrahull, Co. Donegal, laid by U-79 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Otto Rohrbeck. She sank, with the loss of 32 lives; the survivors were picked up by a British naval vessel and brought ashore at Buncrana, Co. Donegal. The Carthaginian was one of 22 ships sunk by U-79 during 11 patrols. The HMT Corientes and HMT Charles Astie were also mined just north of Malin Head in June 1917 by the same U-boat. The U-79 survived the war, surrendering to the French on 21 November 1918. It was subsequently used by the French Navy until 1935. The wreck of the Carthaginian is orientated NNW–SSE on the seabed and measures 116m in length, 21m in width and 4.3m in maximum height, with an average height of 2.1m. Although it is well broken up, there is still plenty to see on this wreck. The defensive stern gun can be found beside the rudder quadrant, along with the boilers and engine amidships. The bow is fairly upright, though it is now raked aft as the structure behind has collapsed, and the anchor derrick still stands on the forecastle deck. GSI Wreck No_116.