Shotline Diving Wreck Profile

• Name: C.D. 120
• Type: Tug
• Year Built:
• Builder:
• Dimensions:
• Registered Tonnage:
• Location: Lake Ontario

Wreck Location Map

Vessel Type

Propulsion: Steam or Diesel (TBD)

Engine Type: [Unknown]

Horsepower: [Unknown]

Description

Little documentation exists for the tug C.D. 120, a utility or harbour tug presumed active in Ontario commercial waters during the First World War. The vessel is reported to have foundered in Lake Ontario in November of 1917. Whether she was engaged in commercial harbor service or towing on the open lake is unknown. Her designation suggests she may have been part of a fleet of numbered tugs or military contract vessels.

The loss adds to the long list of small utility craft that supported Great Lakes commerce in the early 20th century—many of which worked unglamorous but essential roles and were rarely documented in detail.

History

The C.D. 120 reflects the often overlooked class of numbered tugs and service vessels that toiled quietly in support of larger cargo and naval operations. Her sinking in 1917 remains one of the many “lost small craft” of Lake Ontario—vessels that helped build the Great Lakes economy but slipped beneath the waves with little public notice.

Significant Incidents

• Date of Loss: November 1917
• Cause: Foundered (presumed weather or mechanical failure)
• Casualties: [Unknown]

Final Disposition

The wreck status of the C.D. 120 is currently not positively identified. The exact location of the wreck site remains unknown.

Current Condition & Accessibility

• Diving Suitability: Not established
• Research Potential: High—possible historical archives or local oral histories may provide leads

Resources & Links

[shotline_reference_links slug=”c-d-120″ title=”References & Links”]

The C.D. 120 serves as a reminder of the many small vessels that played crucial roles in the maritime history of the Great Lakes, despite their often-unnoticed contributions.