I-7 (1943) The 355 foot Japanese submarine I-7 was sunk in a confrontation with several U S vessels June 23, 1943 in the vicinity of Twin Rocks near Kiska Island. The vessel was scuttled in 10 fathoms of water. Six crewmembers were killed in the initial attack and 43 others reached shore as the submarine went down. The I-7 had a compliment of 100 officers and crew.
Mapping and Location: Southwest Alaska 51 55 17 N 177 37 15 E Chart 16441
Sources : 1. BOEM Alaska Shipwreck List (2011), 2. Wikipedia.org (2013) “Japanese submarine I-7 and I-8”
I-9 (1943) The 367 foot Japanese submarine I-9 was sunk with all hands by the U S Navy destroyer Frasier June 14, 1943 approximately 15 miles east of Sirius Point on Kiska Island. The I-9 carried a compliment of 114 officers and crew.
Mapping and Location: Southwest Alaska 52 08 N 177 36 E Chart 16012
Source: 1. BOEM Alaska Shipwreck List (2011), 2. Wikipedia.org (2013) “Japanese submarine I-9”
I-24 (1943) The 358 foot Japanese submarine I-24 was sunk in a confrontation with the U S Picket Boat PC-487 June 10, 1943 approximately 40 miles north northeast of Shemya Island. The I-24 had a compliment of 104 officers and crew, all lost.
Mapping and Location: Southwest Alaska 52 43 20 N 174 07 E Chart 16012
Sources: 1. BOEM Alaska Shipwreck List (2011), 2. Wikipedia.org (2013) “Japanese submarine I-24”
I-31 (1943) The 350 foot Japanese submarine I-31 was sunk in 1,000 fathoms of water in a coordinated attack by U S aircraft and ships May 14, 1943 five miles northeast of Chichagof Harbor, Attu Island. The I-31 carried a compliment of 101 officers and crew.
Mapping and Location: Southwest Alaska 52 56 N 173 15 E Chart 16012
Sources: 1. BOEM Alaska Shipwreck List (2011), 2. Wikipedia.org (2013) “Japanese submarine I-31”
ICY MIST (2009) The 58 foot fishing vessel Icy Mist ran up on the rocks February 25, 2009 on the northwest shore of Akutan Island a half mile from Hog and Unalaska Islands. The vessel began taking on water in the engine room in heavy weather. Winds were gusting to 120 miles an hour when the crew of four abandoned ship to the beach nearby. They were rescued by a U S Coast Guard Helicopter and returned to Dutch Harbor.
Mapping and Location: Southwest Alaska 54 07 N 165 55 W Chart 16011
Additional Information: Tonnage 100 Gross 80 Net, Length 47.5, ON 649230
Sources: 1. Unofficial Wreck List (Kodiak), 2. U S C G News Release (February 26, 2009) “Coast Guard saves Icy Mist fishermen in hurricane force winds”, 3. USCG District 17 Enforcement Report (February 25, 2009), 4. USCG MISLE Case # 443017
ILIAMMA (1901) The 17 ton 40 foot wooden schooner Iliamma slipped her moorings at Unga November 25, 1900 and drifted to the west until 4 p.m. February 20, 1901 when she stranded at Kagalaska Island in a full SW gale. The following are excerpts from the Wreck Report filed by the only occupant of the vessel, her master Charles Seymour of Portland Oregon:
”Unga, 25th of November, 1900…Dragged her mooring, slipped cable, and went to sea; sprung rudderhead and drifted to west until lost.” “Kagalaska Island, Lat 54 45 Long 176 26 W…Stranded, No anchors, made lines fast to rocks, lines parted and vessel got on the beach…Full gale SW. 4 p.m.” “Had only one kedge, having slipped moorings when in Unga; kedge dragged; made lines fast to rocks, and they parted. Island not inhabited.”
“After losing vessel, took small boat endeavoring to make my way to some settlement. Fell in with a hunting party from Atka Id. (natives) who conveyed me to Atka, where I took passage on the schooner Challenge.”
Mapping and Location: Southwest Alaska 54 45 N 176 26 W Chart 16471
Comment: Probably 51 45 N at southwest end of Kagalaska Island. WG
Additional Information: Length 40, Breadth 12.5, Depth 4.5, Built 1899 Cook Inlet, Tonnage 17 Net, Registered Sitka, ON 100690, Master Charles Seymour of Portland Oregon, Owner Henry Arnold of Seattle, Vessel Value $1,800, Cargo none, Insurance none
Source: U S Customs Wreck Report filed at Unalaska by Seymour May 27, 1901
ILLUSION (2007) The 42 foot fishing vessel Illusion foundered February 10, 2007 in Makushin Bay on Unalaska Island. The vessel had been engaged in Pacific Cod fishing and was enroute to Dutch Harbor when she sank stern first and rolled to port. Winds were at 40 to 50 knots gusting to 60 when a U S Coast Guard Helicopter rescued the crew of four from a life raft. For his efforts in the rescue, Petty Officer 1st Class Will Milan was later presented the Coast Guard Foundation Individual Award for Heroism and the Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal.
Mapping and Location: Southwest Alaska 53 44 N 167 W Chart 16011
Additional Information: Tonnage 29 Gross 23 Net, ON 927208
Sources: 1. Unofficial Shipwreck List (Kodiak), 2. U S C G Press Release (October 24, 2007) “Coast Guardsman Awarded for Harrowing Bering Sea Rescue”, 3. USCG MISLE Case # 337488
INTREPID (1984) The fishing vessel Intrepid was blown onto the rocks and lost December 5, 1984 near Seguam Pass 130 miles southwest of Dutch Harbor. All five crewmembers were rescued by nearby fishing vessels.
Mapping and Location: Southwest Alaska 52 10 N 172 45 W Chart 16012
Source: BOEM Alaska Shipwreck List (2011)
ISKUM (1931) The 82 ton 72.2 foot wooden oil screw Iskum struck a submerged rock and foundered at 8:50 p.m. Wednesday April 15, 1931. The crew of 18 managed to reach safety but the Iskum, valued at $24,000, and her 40 ton cargo of groceries, salt, dories and a motorboat were lost. The following is a accounting as stated in the report of casualty by George L Devenny of Seattle, the master of the Iskum:
“Calm, no wind, dusk.” “Struck rock about three miles ExN Aasatanak, Pacific of south side of Aleutian Islands, Latitude 52 degrees 2 minutes North; Longitude 174 degrees 22 minutes west…Uncharted sunken rock.”
“Vessel struck and was only fast for about 60 seconds. Port bow was badly caved in and vessel slid off the rock. I know of a harbor about 15 miles distant and endeavored to make it but vessel foundered before I was able to get to harbor. Vessel did not sink for several hours after the accident but ship was abandoned about 1 hour and 10 minutes after striking rock and sunk later on. Immediately sent to Atka Village for help but before help could arrive vessel had sunk.” “Power dories from Atka Village towed crew back to Village next day.”
The Umnak Native was dispatched from Atka and rescued the survivors from Wide Bay where they had beached in dories. The passengers and crew camped overnight in the deep snow using the overturned dories for shelter.
Mapping and Location: Southwest Alaska 52 02 N 174 25 30 W Chart 16480
Comment: Probably submerged rock 3 miles NE of Sadatanak Island. WG
Additional Information: Tonnage 82 Gross 68 Net, Built 1912, Registered Juneau, ON 220172, Owner Kanaga Ranching Co of Seattle, Last Port Atka April 15, 1931, Destination Kanago Harbor, Kanago Island, Insurance believed to be full coverage
Sources: 1. U S Coast Guard Report of Casualty filed at Ketchikan by Devenny June 3, 1931, 2. Seattle Daily Times (June 9, 1931) “Motorship Iskum Leaped in Air Before Foundering in Alaska Waters, Says Skipper Who Saved Crew” Pg 9