Lydia M. Child

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In 1943, another newly arrived Japanese submarine, I-178 had a victory, sinking the US Liberty Ship Lydia M Child, 145 kilometres east of Newcastle on April 27th, 1943. The vessel sank within eight minutes.

The 7176-ton vessel had a length of 128.8 metres and was built by the California Shipbuilding Company in 1943. The crew escaped and were picked up within twelve hours by HMAS Warnambool.

The Limerick had been torpedoed the day before, April 26th, off Byron Bay and the Wollongbar off Crescent Head on April 29th.

Database

Site information

Site ID:

1031

Type:

Steamer screw

Construction:

Primary industry:

Transport

Sub-industry:

cargo - international

Gross tonnage:

7176

Net tonnage:

Length (mtrs):

128.8

Beam (mtrs):

17.37

Draft (mtrs):

10.60

Cargo:

Lend Lease supplies

Engine:

Country built:

UNITED STATES

State built:

Port built:

builder:

California Shipbuilding Company

Port registered:

When built:

1943

Registration number:

Official number:

(US)243076

Sources:

SMH 8/5/43 Parsons, R (from private records) Gill

Comments:

US Liberty Ship sunk by a torpedo fired from Japanese submarine I-178.

Lost event

When lost:

1943/04/27

Where lost:

Newcastle, 145 kms east of

Wrecked/Refloated:

Torpedoed

Sinking:

Torpedoed

From port:

San Francisco

To port:

Sydney

Master:

Owner:

Crew:

Passengers:

Crew deaths:

Passenger deaths:

Total deaths:

Location

Maximum latitude:

Minimum latitude:

Maximum longitude:

Minimum longitude:

Datum used:

Datum	Latitude	Longitude	Zone	Easting	Northing
AGD66
AGD84
GDA94
WGS84

Management

Found:

Inspected:

Protected:

Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018

Jurisdiction:

Federal

Protection notes:

Signage:

Web address:

Links

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