W.H. MYER 1922
- Tug Boat
- 70ffw 24m
- 90ft Length
- Lake Erie
- 41 38.244 81 54.197
ADMIRAL, originally built as W.H. Meyer in 1907 by Manitowoc Ship Building Co. in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, was a steel propeller tugboat measuring 93′ x 22′ x 11′. In 1942, just 89 days before its sinking, the vessel was renamed ADMIRAL, during a rebuild. It was owned by Cleveland Tankers, Inc. and operated as a barge and tug, with the tug owned by Allied Oil Co. of Cleveland, Ohio. The Admiral had a gross tonnage of 130 and a net tonnage of 88. It primarily served as a tow tug and occasional harbor icebreaker.
The ADMIRAL, sank on December 2, 1942, approximately 10 miles north of Avon Point, Ohio, and 18 miles west/northwest from Cleveland Harbor. It capsized and foundered during a fierce winter gale while towing the tanker barge CLEVECO, which was carrying a cargo of fuel oil for wartime purposes. The Cleveco drifted further east and sank offshore of Euclid, Ohio. The sinking of both vessels resulted in the loss of fourteen lives on the ADMIRAL, and eighteen lives on the CLEVCO. Only three bodies were recovered from the ADMIRAL,, while all bodies from the CLEVECO, except for the captain, were retrieved.
The sinking of the ADMIRAL, was believed to have been caused by a combination of factors. Both vessels had accumulated ice buildup prior to sinking, and heavy snowfall made it impossible for them to see each other despite being tethered together by a towline. It is speculated that the strain on the towline and the accumulation of ice on the stern of the ADMIRAL, caused the tug to capsize and sink when a wave overtook it.
Divers who located the ADMIRAL, in 1969 reported that the vessel sits upright in 75 feet of water. While many artifacts, including the bell and pilothouse equipment, have been removed, the vessel remains largely intact. However, the crew quarters and galley are silted in, and caution is advised when penetrating the pilothouse and engine room. The stack of the ADMIRAL, lies against the port side gunnel amidships. The name of the tug, which was once clearly legible on the bow, is now obscured by zebra mussels.
Despite being visible in earlier years, the stern of the ADMIRAL, is now almost entirely buried under silt and mud. Early divers discovered evidence of the towline being fouled in the prop, suggesting that the vessel went down stern-heavy. The ADMIRAL, was inspected by the US Coast Guard before the sinking, and although it was deemed seaworthy with some restrictions, a memorandum indicated that the tug was slightly “deficient in stability.” This deficiency, along with the strain on the towline and other factors, may have contributed to the sinking of the Admiral and the loss of all hands on board.
The sinking of the ADMIRAL, and the CLEVECO in Lake Erie in 1942 was considered one of the worst marine disasters in modern times for lake freight shipping. Despite heroic rescue attempts by various vessels and the use of radio telephone communication, the severe winter storm and poor visibility hampered the efforts to save the crew members. The disaster highlighted the need for improved safety measures, such as radar, which became a valuable tool for modern ships navigating the Great Lakes.
