SS William H. Machen
Freighter · United States · Lost 1942 · The Isles of Shoals & the New Hampshire Coast
A wartime steel freighter sank after colliding with another cargo ship east of the Isles of Shoals in 1942 and lay unidentified on the seabed for 75 years.
Become Captain of RecordSee Shipwreck on Map
The Vessel and Her Loss
SS William H. Machen, a 1916-built steel freighter of the Pocahontas Steamship Company, collided with the British freighter Maid of Stirling east of White Island in the Isles of Shoals on July 7, 1942. Maid of Stirling survived and reached port, but Machen was mortally damaged and sank, becoming one of dozens of U.S. merchant losses recorded that wartime month. The wreck went unlocated for 75 years until a team of technical divers found her lying on her side in 300 feet of water in 2017, confirming her identity from recovered dishware and a ship's clock.
Vessel
- 1916
- New York Shipbuilding Corporation
- New York, New York
- Steel
- 359 ft
- 49 ft
- 3922
- Steam, single screw
- Pocahontas Steamship Company
Loss
- July 7, 1942
- Collision
- About 5 miles east of White Island, Isles of Shoals, New Hampshire
- Atlantic Ocean
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
The Wreck Today
- 300 ft
- Lies partially turtled on her side, with a considerable portion buried in the muddy bottom.
- Partially capsized on her side
- 2017
- Not established
Position
- 42.95° N 70.50° W
- Approximate position
- White Island, Isles of Shoals, New Hampshire
Position derived from wreckhunter.net's published loran-era coordinates (42-57-00 N / 070-29-58 W), rounded.
Evidence
Overall confidence: Documented (78/100)
Casualty figures for the crew were not established in the sources reviewed.
Build specifications, owner, date and cause of loss, coordinates.
City of Portsmouth, New Hampshire (Portsmouth Public Library)
Details of the 2017 dive team discovery and wreck condition.
Discovery narrative and depth.
