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

Guenter’s Wreck – Lake Ontario by POWKingston on Sketchfab

Identification & Site Information

• Name: HMS Montreal (originally HMS Wolfe)
• Type: British Man-of-War, 20-gun freshwater sloop-of-war
• Built: 1813, Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard, Upper Canada
• Dimensions:
• Gun Deck Length: 107 feet (32.6 meters)
• Keel Length: 103 feet (31.4 meters)
• Beam: 30 feet 10 inches (9.4 meters)
• Draught: 11 feet (3.4 meters)
• Depth of Hold: 4 feet 6 inches (1.4 meters)
• Tonnage: 426 tons burthen
• Final Location: Near Royal Military College of Canada, Kingston Harbour, Lake Ontario
• Depth of Wreck: 18 meters (60 feet)

Vessel Type Description

The HMS Montreal was a 20-gun freshwater sloop-of-war constructed to bolster British naval power on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812. Originally launched as HMS Wolfe, the vessel was pivotal in the British squadron’s operations, including blockades and direct engagements with American forces. Designed for war in confined waters, the ship featured a shallow draught, facilitating navigation in the Great Lakes.

History

Construction and Launch

Built at the Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard under the supervision of multiple shipwrights due to delays. Launched on May 5, 1813, following a failed traditional launch attempt in April Served as the flagship of Commodore James Lucas Yeo during the War of 1812.

Role in the War of 1812

• Key Engagements:
  • Battle of Sackett’s Harbor (May 1813): Supported British troops during an assault on the American naval base.
  • Blockades and Skirmishes: Frequently engaged with American forces under Commodore Isaac Chauncey.
• Name Change and Rearmament (January 1814):
  • Renamed HMS Montreal following the formal transfer of control from the British Army to the Royal Navy.
  • Rearmed with:
    • 7 x 24-pounder long guns
    • 18 x 18-pounder long guns
• Post-War Service:
  • Recommissioned as a transport vessel with reduced armament (6 cannons).
  • By 1831, hulked and decommissioned as the dockyard at Kingston closed.

Final Disposition

Ordered to be broken up and sold after being hulked.

Wreck location discovered in 2006 near Kingston by divers, identified as “Guenter’s Wreck.”

The Wreck of HMS Montreal

The wreck lies in 60 feet (18 meters) of water near the Royal Military College of Canada, in Kingston, Ontario.

Known to local divers for over 20 years, the wreck provides critical insights into naval architecture and the War of 1812.

Armament

• Initial Armament (1813):
  • 18 x 18-pounder carronades
  • 2 x 12-pounder long guns
• Rearmed Armament (1814):
  • 4 x 68-pounder carronades
  • 10 x 32-pounder carronades
  • 1 x 24-pounder long gun
  • 8 x 18-pounder long guns

Notmar & Advisories

No current Notices to Mariners (NOTMARs):

Wreck lies in a known dive site area, but caution is advised for vessels navigating near Kingston Harbour.

Located By & Date

Discovered in 1996, the wreck was identified as “Guenter’s Wreck” near Cedar Island Confirmation of the wreck as HMS Montreal in 2006 by Parks Canada and DeepQuest2 offers a tangible connection to British naval history on the Great Lakes.

Current Condition & Accessibility

The wreck is submerged in shallow waters and is accessible to divers. Its remains are significant for studying early 19th-century shipbuilding and naval warfare.

Resources & Links

• Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Historical documents and naval records.
• David Swayze’s Historical Collection: Comprehensive shipwreck and maritime events archive.
• Lords of the Lake (Robert Malcomson): A detailed account of the naval war on Lake Ontario during the War of 1812.
• Ships of the Royal Navy (J. J. Colledge & Ben Warlow): Official record of British warships.
• Moore, Jonathan, 2014, Frontier Frigates and a Three-Decker: Wrecks of the Royal Navy’s Lake Ontario Squadron, in Kevin J. Crisman (ed.), Coffins of the Brave: Lake Shipwrecks of the War of 1812. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, pp. 187-218.
  https://www.amazon.ca/Coffins-Brave-Lake-Shipwrecks-1812/dp/1623490324
• Moore, Jonathan, 2012, Kingston’s Bicentennial Warships: A Century of Exploration, in Robert J. Andrews and Brian S. Osborne (eds.), Sideshow or Main Event: Putting the War of 1812 into Regional Contexts. Kingston Historical Society, Kingston, pp. 93-108.
• Moore, Jonathan, 2008, Shipwrecks from the War of 1812 at Kingston, Ontario. Cataraqui Archaeological Research Foundation, Kingston, Ontario.

Conclusion

The HMS Montreal, a storied vessel from the War of 1812, exemplifies the pivotal role of naval power on the Great Lakes. From its construction and service under Commodore Yeo to its eventual wreckage near Kingston, the ship stands as a symbol of British naval ingenuity and the turbulent history of North America’s waterways. The wreck remains a vital archaeological and historical site, offering unique insights into the challenges and strategies of early 19th-century naval warfare.

Tags

#HMSMontreal #WarOf1812 #LakeOntarioWrecks #KingstonHarbour #BritishNavalHistory #GreatLakesShipwrecks

hms-montreal 1820-03-14 07:53:00