Part of an outward bound convoy which had entered the Downs to change escorts, the JAMES HARROD collided with the SS RAMON STERN, leaving the former vessel badly holed abaft the bridge, from deck to keel. Shortly after there was a loud explosion and the ship burst into flames. Both vessels suffered casualties, some fatal, but only the JAMES HARROD remained burning. Originally beached off Kingsdown by salvage tugs, several days later and still on fire, a southerly gale caused her to refloat and she drove northwards until grounding on the Marlm Rocks, opposite Deal Castle where she broke her back. Beside a large deck cargo of jeeps and half-track vehicles, she carried thousands of jerricans of petrol. When the fire was extinquished, her cargo was unloaded into landing craft, some burnt out vehicles being dumped overboard. The fore-part was salved, and laid up in the river Blackwater, the after part later joining it, both being scrapped at Antwerp. Year Built: 1943 Builder: Iron Fireman Man Co., Portland Engine HP: 2500 Propulsion: Screw, 3 cylinder triple expansion Boilers: 2 Crew Lost: 0 Passengers: 0 Date of Loss Qualifier: A Additional sources cited in United Kingdom Shipwreck Index: TLS.2nd.Ed. 1985 p124; EKM.10.01.1974(R); MOD(N).Hyd.Wk.No. 012303963

Vertical Datum: LAT Quality of Depth: ES JAMES HARROD was lost in collision with American ship RAYMOND B STEVENS in 1945. Cargo of vehicles salvaged. Details of salvage in "The Liberty Ships". 13-APR-1978 Examined in 51 12 59.0N, 001 24 38.0E. Least echosounder depth 1.8 in general depth 3.4m. Scour 4.4m. Small "spikey" wreck. 12-SEP-1984 Wreck has almost disappeared under mud (East Kent Maritime Trust, 23-JUL-1984).

Hydrographic Office wreck index (Bibliographic reference). SKE6339.

Hydrographic Office wreck index (Bibliographic reference). SKE6339.

<1> United Kingdom shipwreck index, Page Nos. N/a (Bibliographic reference). SKE6340.