IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
VESSEL TYPE DESCRIPTION #
The vessel in question is a landing craft, similar to the type used for transporting vehicles and personnel between Wolfe Island and Kingston. These crafts were robust, flat-bottomed vessels designed to carry heavy loads, including military vehicles. The particular craft mentioned here was used as a target during bombing practice at the Millhaven Bombing Range, located near Amherst Island in Lake Ontario.
HISTORY #
This landing craft, originally used for transportation between Wolfe Island and Kingston, was later repurposed for military training exercises. It was taken to the Millhaven Bombing Range, where it was used as a target for bombing practice. The vessel, along with an Anson Bomber, was sunk during these exercises. The craft was located again in 1956, but its exact location remained largely undisclosed.
FINAL DISPOSITION #
After serving as a target at the Millhaven Bombing Range, the landing craft was left at the bottom of Lake Ontario. Although located in 1956, it was not salvaged because the contract focused on retrieving lead practice bombs, not the vessel itself. The landing craft, along with the remains of the Anson Bomber, was left undisturbed at the site.
CURRENT CONDITION & ACCESSIBILITY #
The wreck remains in deep water within the Millhaven Bombing Range, with its precise location known only to a few, including a diver who rediscovered it in 1956. As of 1999, this diver, then in his 80s, had not disclosed the exact location, leaving the wreck largely unexplored. Due to its historical use as a bombing target, the site might present unexploded ordnance hazards, making it risky for diving without proper clearance and precautions.
RESOURCES & LINKS #
For more information, you may explore historical military records related to the Millhaven Bombing Range or consult local diving groups familiar with the area’s history.
