Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Gotham
- Type: Steel-hulled propeller fish tug
- Year Built: 1940
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage:
- Location: Approximately north of Saugatuck, Michigan, in Lake Michigan
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
A modern, steel-constructed fish tug—likely outfitted with trawl or gill net gear—powered by a single screw. Considered “unsinkable” by her operators due to steel construction, she nonetheless succumbed to extreme weather conditions.
Description
The Gotham was utilized for commercial fishing on Lake Michigan. On 11 December 1943, while returning to port amid a severe gale, the vessel lost stability and sank, resulting in the loss of all five crew members on board.
History
- Purpose: Used for commercial fishing on Lake Michigan
- 11 December 1943: While returning to port amid a severe gale, Gotham lost stability and sank. All five crew on board perished.
Significant Incidents
- All five crew members lost during the sinking.
Final Disposition
The vessel foundered and sank to the lakebed. There is no record of bodies or remains being recovered. The wreckage, if intact, lies in deep water off the Saugatuck coast.
Current Condition & Accessibility
- Neither location nor wreckage has been documented by diver logs or archaeological surveys.
- Depth and wartime conditions make exploration unlikely. No members of the public or research teams have reported discovery.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”gotham-1940″ title=”References & Links”]
The Gotham’s loss in December 1943 underscores the vulnerability of even modern, steel-hulled fishing vessels to the ferocity of Lake Michigan winter storms. Despite her “unsinkable” build, she foundered swiftly under gale conditions, claiming the lives of her entire crew. Her final resting place remains undocumented, a somber reminder of the lake’s enduring hazards.
Legacy Notes & Full Historical Record
This section preserves the original unedited Shotline content for this wreck so that no historical detail is lost as we transition to the new logbook format.
Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Gotham
- Year Built: 1940
- Type: Steel-hulled propeller fish tug
- Location of Sinking: Approximately north of Saugatuck, Michigan, in Lake Michigan
- Date: 11 December 1943
- Loss Type: Foundered in a gale while returning to port; “went down in a gale.”
- Casualties: All five crew members lost (Naval History and Heritage Command, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Vessel Type & Description
A modern, steel-constructed fish tug—likely outfitted with trawl or gill net gear—powered by a single screw. Considered “unsinkable” by her operators due to steel construction, she nonetheless succumbed to extreme weather conditions.
History & Final Voyage
- Purpose: Used for commercial fishing on Lake Michigan
- 11 December 1943: While returning to port amid a severe gale, Gotham lost stability and sank. All five crew on board perished .
Final Disposition
The vessel foundered and sank to the lakebed. There is no record of bodies or remains being recovered. The wreckage, if intact, lies in deep water off the Saugatuck coast.
Located By & Survey Status
- Neither location nor wreckage has been documented by diver logs or archaeological surveys.
- Depth and wartime conditions make exploration unlikely. No members of the public or research teams have reported discovery.
Notmar & Navigation Advisories
- No modern Notices to Mariners mention the sinking, and no navigational hazards appear near the site.
- However, December storms on Lake Michigan pose substantial risks to small vessels.
Resources & Link
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files (under “G” listings) confirm: “Built as propeller fish tug, steel… Date of loss: 1943, Dec 11… Went down in a gale while returning to port… Loss of life: 5 [all]” (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Conclusion
The Gotham‘s loss in December 1943 underscores the vulnerability of even modern, steel-hulled fishing vessels to the ferocity of Lake Michigan winter storms. Despite her “unsinkable” build, she foundered swiftly under Gale conditions, claiming the lives of her entire crew. Her final resting place remains undocumented, a somber reminder of the lake’s enduring hazards.
Keywords, Categories, Glossary
- Keywords: Gotham fish tug, 1943 storm sinking, Saugatuck Lake Michigan wreck
- Categories: Steel fishing tug losses, small craft foundering, WWII-era Great Lakes disasters
- Glossary:
- Fish tug: A small commercial fishing vessel designed for lake nets
- Foundered: Filled with water and sank
- Propeller-driven: Powered by a screw (propeller) rather than paddle or sail