USS. JAMES EAGAN LANE

The American liberty ship James Eagan Lane was sunk on the 21st March 1945, being on her first voyage from her home port of Barry in Wales to the Belgium port of Ghent. 1304m long and 7180 tones she was carrying military stores including boats as deck cargo. She was torpedoed by U 1195 at 13:40 Hrs near the Eddystone reef, The James Eagan Lane was hit between number 4 and 5 holds sinking by the stern she was abandoned in ten minutes. In an attempt to save the cargo HMS Flaunt took her in tow but her stern collapsed causing her to sink further. HMS Flaunt tried to beech her in Whitsand Bay, where she still sits upright, pointing north towards the shore in 24 metres. For many years you could tie your boat off to her mast.

I would say this wreck is the most dived and popular in the UK. All local dive boats run trips to this wreck, sitting upright on sand facing north about 1 NM from Rame Head. A easy dive with very little tide so Its possible to dive the wreck at most states of the tide, also It is sheltered from the South easterly winds by Rame Head.

The James is a good choice for less experienced divers with visibility of 15 metres plus. The wreck is split into two sections, the bow section being the largest is some 25m away from the stern section. The bow complete with railings is very much intact. Visibility is generally good, although this does depend on the number of divers on the site.

If by chance you see a green to yellow disk glowing that are 4-5 cm in diameter, keep well away DO NOT PICK UP as they are radioactive and will badly burn your skin if held in close contact. I still can't get the reason why they were on board the James Eagan Lane packed in wooden ammunition boxes. Were they to be used to mark landing strips for the secret squirrels in France? Your guess is as good as mine for the ministry of defence say they never existed! The last time I dived the wreck there were still plenty of pick axe heads, pulleys and locomotive parts in her five holds.

WARNING: Like most wrecks of this age the decking is badly rusting making the edges razor sharp when the rust is knocked off so be careful.

This was my first ever wreck dive. I loved every minute of the dive and dived it when ever I could.

If those beef bones are still at mid ships, starboard side on the sea bed they came from Letchworth Garden City...........