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Archaeology Notes
Event ID 760604
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Archaeology Notes
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/760604
NR64SW 8001 6340 4456
N55 38.2167 W5 45.5833
NLO: Cara Island [name: NR 640 440]
Sound of Gigha [name centred NR 67 49]
Sound of Jura [name centred NR 64 78]
Isle of Gigha [name centred NR 642 492].
Formerly entered as NR64SW 9312.
Horizontal Datum = OGB
General water depth = 6
Orientation of keel/wreck = NS
Circumstances of Loss Details
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The ASKA, while proceeding independently from Bathurst, West Africa, to Liverpool with 350 French troops on board, was bombed by German aircraft when between Rathlin Island and Maiden's Rock. She was abandoned by passengers and crew, and drifted ashore on Cara island where she became total loss. Her cargo included 600 tons of cocoa.
Source: Dictionary of Disasters at Sea, Lloyds War Losses.
Surveying Details
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The air attack took place at 55 15 00N, 005 55 00W, approximately.
Source: World War II Shipping Loses.
18 August 1953. The wreck lies at 55 37 42N, 005 45 19W, approximately and is not dangerous to shipping.
(Authority unknown)
2 February 1956. The ASKA is confirmed ashore on Cara Island.
25 February 1975. The wreck was dived on in 1966. Part of the machinery shows above the surface.
Letter from P L Sellars, 11 Febraury 1975.
10 March 1992. Wreckage lies on both sides of the reef running N/S off Cara Island at 55 38 13N, 005 45 35W. The majority lies to the west of the reef and the engine block breaks surface at mid-tide in calm conditions. The wreckage lies in 4 to 10 metres of water so close to the reef as to be considered part of it.
Report by P J Moir, 4 March 1992.
Hydrographic Office, 1995.
(Classified as steel steamship, with cargo of French personnel: date of loss cited as 16 September 1940). Aska: this vessel was attacked by aircraft [and] drifted ashore on Cara.
Registration: British. Built 1939. 8323grt. Length: 133m. Beam: 20m.
(Location of loss cited as N55 38.18 W5 45.62).
I G Whittaker 1998.
The implied equation of the wreck remains described by Moir with the recorded loss of the Aska is accepted.
The cited location remains unverified.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM), 29 March 2010.
