Vertical Datum: LAT Position of wreck 2 miles, 6.5 Cables, 154deg from light on outer extremity of Folkestone pier depth 40ft, mariners warned that area within 0.5 mile of wreck considered dangerous.

17-JUL-1959 Located in 26ft general depths 73ft mean low water springs.

26-JUN-1963 Dispersal contract placed, salvage operations in progress.

26-NOV-1964 Wreck now identified as SS KIELCE known to contain explosives, large bombs and ammunition at time of loss.

30-MAY-1967 Wreck dispersed to 54ft.

19-OCT-1977 in 51 02 19N, 001 13 46E Depth 18.5m in general depth 22m, scour 26.6m, height 5.6m, but not reliable as wreckage scattered over area 120x80m.
(1)

Built in 1943/4 it was transferred to Poland under the lend-least act. After the war it was carrying munitions to American troops stationed in Germany. A few minutes before midnight on 4th April 1946, SS Kielce collided with French vessel SS Lombardy. The crew abandoned the ship over fear of explosions. Left without any control, the vessel sank. During wreck clearance works on 22nd July 1967 a cutting charge caused a large explosion. The explosion registered as 4 on the Richter Scale and was detected up to 5000 miles away. It caused widespread damage in Folkestone though no injuries were reported. The remaining wreckage is apparently located in a very large crater on the seabed. (2)

<1> Hydrographic Office wreck index, Extracted 20-JAN-1993, Page Nos. N/a (Bibliographic reference). SKE6339.

<2> Wreck Site (www.wrecksite.eu), http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?11652 (Website). SKE18181.