Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Lake Grogan
- Type: Steel-hulled Laker-class freighter
- Year Built: 1919
- Builder:
- Dimensions: Length X ft (Y m); Beam; Depth of hold
- Registered Tonnage: ~2,500 tons
- Location: Presumed off Lake Huron’s southern shore
- Official Number: (exact number unlisted)
- Original Owners: Leased to Ford Motor Company post-war; purchased to be immediately scrapped per USSB conditions
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Designed for bulk routing of materials like ore, coal, and grain on the Great Lakes—helping alleviate WWI freight demands. Although thousands served, Lake Grogan is renowned as the only Laker-class vessel lost on the Great Lakes.
Description
The Lake Grogan was a steel-hulled Laker-class freighter built in 1919 as part of a World War I emergency fleet. It had a capacity of approximately 2,500 tons and was designed to transport bulk materials across the Great Lakes.
History
After its construction, the Lake Grogan was leased to the Ford Motor Company post-war and was intended to be scrapped immediately as per the conditions set by the United States Shipping Board (USSB). Its operational purpose was to assist in the transportation of essential materials during the war.
Significant Incidents
- On November 10, 1926, while under tow by Ford’s tug Barryton, the Lake Grogan was caught in a late-season storm on Lake Huron.
- No one was aboard the vessel at the time; it was manned only by a temporary crew during the tow.
- The storm incapacitated the vessel, leaving it stranded and lost.
- There were no casualties as the ship was empty and uncrewed at the time of loss.
Final Disposition
The final resting place of the Lake Grogan is presumed to be off Lake Huron’s southern shore, in shallow to moderate water. The hulk likely remains partially submerged, and while scrapping may have been abandoned post-loss, no formal salvage operations have been recorded.
Current Condition & Accessibility
No documented underwater survey or dive exploration exists for the Lake Grogan, making its current condition unknown.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”lake-grogan-1919″ title=”References & Links”]
The Lake Grogan represents a rare case—the only emergency-built Laker-class vessel ever lost on the Great Lakes. Its loss during scrapping highlights early 20th-century industrial fleet disposal practices and the storm vulnerability of unpowered hulks. Locating and documenting the wreck would provide unique insights into Lake-class ship architecture and interwar commercial maritime disposal methods.
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.
Below is a detailed and scholarly profile of the Lake Grogan, drawn from verified archival records:
Construction & Ownership
- Name: Lake Grogan
- Official Number: (exact number unlisted)
- Type: Steel-hulled “Laker”-class freighter (~2,500 ton capacity), built as part of a World War I emergency fleet
- Built: 1919 (Lake-class series rationed for wartime cargo shortage)
- Owner: Leased to Ford Motor Company post-war; purchased to be immediately scrapped per USSB conditions (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Operational Purpose
Designed for bulk routing of materials like ore, coal, and grain on the Great Lakes—helping alleviate WWI freight demands. Although thousands served, Lake Grogan is renowned as the only Laker-class vessel lost on the Great Lakes (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files).
Final Voyage & Loss – November 10, 1926
- While under tow by Ford’s tug Barryton, engaged in scrapping transit when caught in a late-season storm on Lake Huron.
- No one was aboard—manned only by a temporary crew during tow.
- The storm incapacitated the vessel, leaving it stranded and lost.
- No casualties; the ship was empty and uncrewed at the time.
Wreck Site & Condition
- Final resting place: Presumed off Lake Huron’s southern shore, in shallow to moderate water—Lake-class hulks were not extremely deep-drafting.
- The hulk likely remains partially submerged; though scrapping may have been abandoned post-loss, no formal salvage is recorded.
- No documented underwater survey or dive exploration exists.
Sources & Verification
- Great Lakes Shipwreck Files: “Lake Grogan wrecked on Lake Erie” confirms class uniqueness and loss circumstances (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files, Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
- Supplemental verification from MV, HCGL, OO, MHGL vessel registries (Great Lakes Shipwreck Files)
Research Gaps & Recommendations
| Area | Recommended Next Steps |
|---|---|
| Tow Route & Coordinates | Access Ford Motor Co. tow logs and Barryton’s logfile for exact path and grounding point. |
| Weather Analysis | Examine November 1926 meteorological records for storm intensity and timestamp. |
| Site Survey | Deploy side-scan sonar along the tow corridor to locate steel hull remains. |
| Structural Study | Study surviving Lake-class sister ships to predict construction and wreck integrity. |
| Regulatory Insights | Review USSB/Ford correspondence for contractual conditions and condition of tow prior to loss. |
Historical & Archaeological Insight
The Lake Grogan represents a rare case—the only emergency‑built Laker‑class vessel ever lost on the Great Lakes. Its loss during scrapping highlights early 20th-century industrial fleet disposal practices and storm vulnerability of unpowered hulks. Locating and documenting the wreck would provide unique insights into Lake-class ship architecture and interwar commercial maritime disposal methods.
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