Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: H. Dahlke
- Type: Steel-hulled self-unloading sandsucker (propeller-driven)
- Year Built: 1907
- Builder: Manitowoc Dry Dock Co., Manitowoc, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: 142 × 34 × 10 ft; 442 GRT / 374 NRT
- Registered Tonnage: 442 GRT / 374 NRT
- Location: Sandwich, Ontario
- Official Number: 205145
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Steel-hulled self-unloading sandsucker (propeller-driven)
Description
Originally constructed as a bulk freighter, H. Dahlke was refitted in 1911 for self-unloading sand operations, a relatively early example of this technology on the Great Lakes.
History
H. Dahlke was built in 1907 by Manitowoc Dry Dock Co. and converted from a regular bulk freighter to a sandsucker in 1911. This conversion marked a significant advancement in cargo handling technology on the Great Lakes.
Significant Incidents
- While docked in Sandwich (present-day Windsor, Ontario), unloading a cargo of clay, the vessel suffered a cargo shift, destabilizing her.
- As a result, H. Dahlke capsized and sank at the dock—but all crew were spared; there were no casualties.
- The ship was considered a total loss, though was later refloated, sold off the lakes, and converted into a “banana boat” (likely transporting fruit).
Final Disposition
The vessel was salvaged and converted for continued service post-recovery; no remains lie at the site.
Current Condition & Accessibility
There are no archaeological wreck remains at the site, as the vessel was salvaged and repurposed.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”h-dahlke-us-205145″ title=”References & Links”]
H. Dahlke illustrates the critical impact of cargo stability in self-unloading freighters, highlighting the inherent design risks even when docked. Her recovery and conversion after sinking demonstrate resourcefulness in mid-20th-century Great Lakes shipping.
Full Wreck Record — complete historical article, construction details, voyage logs, incident reports, dive conditions, and all research sources.
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