The torpedo struck her port side, causing it to implode, leaving the engine room wide open to the sea. Within minutes the vessel was sinking the master ordered all crew to the life boats.
The cargo of the SS Shirala consisted of general cargo, wine, marmalade, vehicle spares, binoculars, telescopes, ivory, 180 tons of detonating caps, 1,700 tons of mail and diamonds.
Aboard the Kyarra the shout of ‘torpedo’ sent fear into the heart of every one close enough to hear it. Captain Donavan run to the port side of the bridge. The watchman had spotted the signs but it was already to late. In just 20 minutes the 6,953 tonne ship had disappeared beneath the waves [More]
Sitting on the stern, a diver can see one third of the entire wreck. There were in excess of 1,000 portholes on this ship and many are still firmly stuck in place.
On 2nd May 1918, she was on a voyage from Newhaven to Calais with a cargo of ordinance and sunk by the German submarine UB57, 9 miles southeast of Folkestone.
At 02.10am, the master saw the wake of an incoming torpedo and ordered the helm hard to port, but the ship could not respond in time. The torpedo struck her on her starboard side and she sank within just three minutes.
SS Carlisle Castle was built in 1913 and originally called the Holtye. Diving the wreck today, the bows to the south west and upside down, standing 14M high. Together with general cargo and grain, she was also transporting munitions. White phosphorus can be found. Take care and leave phosphorus in the water.