IDENTIFICATION & SITE INFORMATION #
DETAILED HISTORY OF THE TUGBOAT W. A. C. NO. 5 (AUBURNVILLE) #
The history of the tugboat W. A. C. No. 5, later renamed Auburnville, is a fascinating tale that spans its role in wartime service, post-war commercial use, and its eventual sinking in Lake Ontario. Built in 1944 at Owen Sound, Ontario, the vessel was part of Canada’s wartime effort, specifically constructed as a war vessel under the direction of the Naval Service Headquarters between 1943 and 1945.
Wartime Service #
The W. A. C. No. 5 was a small yet sturdy tugboat, originally designed to support naval operations during World War II. With a wooden hull and equipped with a 93 horsepower engine, the vessel was modest in size but vital in its role. Measuring 37 feet 5 inches in length, with a beam of 10 feet 5 inches and a depth of 4 feet 8 inches, the tug was perfectly suited for maneuvering and towing in harbors and along coastlines.
Post-War Commercial Use #
After the war, many surplus vessels, including the W. A. C. No. 5, were sold off as they were no longer needed for military purposes. In 1947, the tug was purchased by Marine Industries Ltd. of Montreal, Quebec, along with two other tugs, Glendower and Roseville. It was during this transition that the vessel was renamed Auburnville and re-registered in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Under its new name, Auburnville served in a commercial capacity, primarily operated by National Gypsum (Canada) Ltd. in Cheticamp, Nova Scotia. The vessel continued to work as a tug, contributing to the bustling maritime activities in the region, particularly in the transportation and handling of materials related to the gypsum industry.
The Final Voyage and Sinking #
Tragedy struck on May 31, 1962, when the Auburnville met its untimely end. The vessel sank off 30 Mile Point in Lake Ontario, a location west of Rochester, New York. The sinking occurred under circumstances that are not fully detailed in historical records, but it is known that the vessel went down in the approximate position of 43 degrees 32 minutes north latitude and 78 degrees 33.8 minutes west longitude.
Despite the efforts to locate and salvage the wreck, the Auburnville remains missing to this day. The vessel’s disappearance serves as a somber reminder of the inherent dangers faced by ships navigating the often unpredictable waters of the Great Lakes.
Legacy of the W. A. C. No. 5 (Auburnville) #
The Auburnville, originally the W. A. C. No. 5, had a significant history, transitioning from a wartime support vessel to a peacetime commercial tug. Its service life, although marked by routine operations, ended in mystery and loss, as the vessel sank and was never recovered.
The story of the Auburnville reflects the broader narrative of many Great Lakes vessels, which faced the dual challenges of harsh weather conditions and the passage of time. As with many shipwrecks on the Great Lakes, the exact circumstances of the sinking remain unknown, contributing to the enduring mystery of the ship’s final moments.
Sources #
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes Website: For general information on shipwrecks and missing vessels on the Great Lakes.
- Naval Service Headquarters Archives: Historical records of Canadian wartime vessel construction and deployment.
- Great Lakes Ships Website: Provides historical data on vessels that operated on the Great Lakes, including ownership records and incident reports.
