Shotline Diving Wreck Profile
- Name: Richard H.
- Type: Steam-powered fish tug, wood-hulled
- Year Built: 1923
- Builder: Marinette, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: 43.8 ft × 12 ft; 19 GRT
- Registered Tonnage: 19 GRT
- Location: ~5 miles off South Haven—likely near Grand Haven, Lake Michigan
- Original Owners: Captain John McKay, South Haven, MI
Wreck Location Map
Vessel Type
Vessel Type
Steam-powered fish tug, designed for commercial fishing operations on the Great Lakes.
Description
Description
The Richard H. was a wooden-hulled fish tug built in 1923. It was originally constructed for fishing and underwent a cabin remodel in 1939 to enhance its seaworthiness.
History
History
On November 11, 1940, the Richard H. set out with its companion tug, Indian, to lay nets on the first day of trout season. The vessel left harbor around 09:00 and was sighted at approximately 13:30, just before a severe gale struck with winds reaching 60-75 mph.
Significant Incidents
Significant Incidents
- Lost during the Armistice Day Storm on November 11, 1940.
- All three crew members aboard were lost, including Captain McKay’s teenage son.
- Wreckage was found along beaches near Grand Haven and Holland.
Final Disposition
Final Disposition
The Richard H. sank in deep water after breaking up during the storm. No dive surveys or archaeological finds have documented her wreck site, and debris drifted ashore without being logged as a diveable wreck.
Current Condition & Accessibility
Current Condition & Accessibility
As of now, the wreck site remains undocumented, and no dive surveys have been conducted. The wreck is presumed to be in deep water, with no accessible remains.
Resources & Links
[shotline_reference_links slug=”richard-h-1923″ title=”References & Links”]
Conclusion
The Richard H. was overwhelmed by the sudden and deadly Armistice Day Storm, marking a tragic event in Great Lakes maritime history. The loss of all three crew members highlights the dangers faced by vessels in severe weather conditions.
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: Richard H.
- Type: Steam-powered fish tug, wood‑hulled
- Built: 1923, Marinette, Wisconsin
- Dimensions: 43.8 ft × 12 ft; 19 GRT
- Ownership at loss: Captain John McKay, South Haven, MI
- Location: ~5 miles off South Haven—likely near Grand Haven, Lake Michigan
- Date Lost: 11 November 1940 (Armistice Day Storm)
- Loss Type: Sank in sudden gale; vessel disappeared under storm waves
- Casualties: All 3 aboard lost (Captain McKay’s teenage son, plus two crew) (Michigan Shipwrecks)
History & Final Voyage
- Originally built for fishing, she underwent a cabin remodel in 1939 to improve seaworthiness (Wikipedia).
- On first day of trout season, both Richard H. and its companion tug Indian set out on 11 November 1940 to lay nets (Michigan Shipwrecks).
- Leaving harbor at ~09:00, Richard H. was sighted around 13:30—just before an intense gale struck with sustained winds of 60–75 mph and massive waves (Michigan Shipwrecks).
- Coast Guard launched a lifeboat at 14:50, but lost contact; it later returned safely (Michigan Shipwrecks).
Loss & Aftermath
- Wreckage found along beaches near Grand Haven and Holland: pieces of Richard H. including its name board and life jackets (Michigan Shipwrecks).
- Only one body—engineer John Taylor Jr.—was recovered, washed ashore south of Grand Haven, still wearing a life preserver (Michigan Shipwrecks).
- The other crew members were never found. No insurance coverage for vessel or crew was in place .
- The wreck of companion tug Indian also washed up; eight crew were lost.
Context – The Armistice Day Storm
This catastrophic storm (nicknamed the 1940 Armistice Day Storm) hit suddenly on November 11, bringing hurricane-force winds and 20–40 ft waves across Lake Michigan. Multiple vessels were lost—including three freighters—with nearly 66 fatalities from around 10 small craft like the Richard H. (National Weather Service).
The Armistice Day Storm – Great Lakes Historical reel
Final Disposition & Site Status
- Richard H. sank in deep water after breaking up; no dive surveys or archaeological finds have documented her wreck site.
- Debris drifted ashore; remnants weren’t consolidated or logged as a diveable wreck.
Notmar & Navigational Advisories
- No official Notices to Mariners identified Richard H. specifically, but the 1940 gale significantly altered shipping operations and forecasting systems in the Great Lakes region.
Conclusion
The sudden and deadly nature of the storm caught vessels off-guard, and even small, newly-remodelled fish tugs like Richard H. were overwhelmed. All three crew are presumed lost, their boat claimed by Lake Michigan’s worst storm since 1913. The event triggered changes in meteorological forecasting and remains a tragic chapter in Great Lakes maritime history.
Keywords & Categories
- Keywords: Richard H. fish tug, Armistice Day Storm, Lake Michigan 1940 wreck, South Haven tragedy
- Categories: 20th century fishing vessel losses, small-craft foundering, sudden gale disasters
- Glossary:
- Fish tug: Specialized vessel for commercial lake fishing, often steam-powered
- Foundered: Filled with water and sank due to hull failure or waves
- Armistice Day Storm: Devastating November 11, 1940 storm impacting Great Lakes and Midwest