Ships sunk by U-boats during WW2

Found this site by accident and checked some of the ships sunk around Florida from Atlas of Treasure Maps.  Most ships were sunk around 1942.

www.uboat.net
http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/listing.php

Ships sunk near Florida

Laertes: 3 May 1942: Freighter
Position 28.21N, 80.23W - Grid DB 9423
Cargo: 5230 tons of war material, including 3 aircraft, 17 medium tanks and 20 trucks

Name Ohioan: Freighter
Position 26.31N, 79.59W - Grid DM 2316
Cargo: 6000 tons of manganese ore
Valued at today's prices: $19.8 million

Millinocket: Freighter
Position 23.12N, 79.58W - Grid DM 5375
Cargo: 4300 tons of bauxite ore (Lead Zinc)
Valued at today's prices: $9.6 million

Onondaga: Freighter
Position 22.40N, 78.44W - Grid DM 6464
Cargo: 6000 tons magnesium ore
Valued at today's prices: $19.2 million

Name Baja California: Freighter
Position 25.14N, 82.27W - Grid DM 1651
48 feet deep
Cargo: War material

Name Santiago de Cuba: Freighter
Position 24.20N, 81.50W - Grid DM 2748
Cargo: General cargo

 

There are several that are between Key West and Marco, that are not on there.  I will look them up and post them.  Diveable too.  There are some out NW of the Dry Tortugas  That are only diveable with Tri-mix or rebreathers.  I will post those if I have them.  Tomorrow, because it is late, and GPS is on my boat.  There are some near the Marquesas too, I will put them on too. These are all WW2 military or cargo vessels that were either sunk by German subs, or military vessels that were accidently ran on to shallow water.  Some of the WW2 military vessels have been used for bombing practice.

Those cargoes aren't worth anything near what you think.

Bauxite Ore, for example, is not lead and zinc. It is an ore used in the production of aluminum because it contains high amounts of aluminum oxide. At current prices, the ore is valued at about $37 per ton on average. It can go as high as $60 per ton if it has high percentages of aluminum oxide.

So with 4300 tons of Bauxite Ore, you are looking at a value of about $159,100.

Manganese Ore is used in both steel and aluminum production. It is currently valued at about $8 per ton on average. Or as high as $16 per ton for richer ore.
So with a cargo of 6000 tons of Manganese Ore, you are looking at a value of about $48,000.

And when a manifest lists "War Material", that could be anything. Usually it consists of vehicles, aircraft, parts and ammunition. There isn't too much value to be had.

Alan,
  I agree with your assessment and have knowledge in the field. The cost to recover would not justify this major endeavor.  Alan, What part of the beautiful State of Idaho?

Found this site by accident and checked some of the ships sunk around Florida from Atlas of Treasure Maps.  Most ships were sunk around 1942.

www.uboat.net
http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/listing.php

Ships sunk near Florida

Laertes: 3 May 1942: Freighter
Position 28.21N, 80.23W - Grid DB 9423
Cargo: 5230 tons of war material, including 3 aircraft, 17 medium tanks and 20 trucks

Name Ohioan: Freighter
Position 26.31N, 79.59W - Grid DM 2316
Cargo: 6000 tons of manganese ore
Valued at today's prices: $19.8 million

Millinocket: Freighter
Position 23.12N, 79.58W - Grid DM 5375
Cargo: 4300 tons of bauxite ore (Lead Zinc)
Valued at today's prices: $9.6 million

Onondaga: Freighter
Position 22.40N, 78.44W - Grid DM 6464
Cargo: 6000 tons magnesium ore
Valued at today's prices: $19.2 million

Name Baja California: Freighter
Position 25.14N, 82.27W - Grid DM 1651
48 feet deep
Cargo: War material

Name Santiago de Cuba: Freighter
Position 24.20N, 81.50W - Grid DM 2748
Cargo: General cargo

 

I've dove the Laertes a bunch.  Pretty cool dive when the vis is decent.  Lots of fish, and cool leftover war machinery.  Have to say, though, you won't find much of value on it.  Through the years it's been beaten up by wire drags, salvagers/collectors, and storms.  You may make $20 dollars if you recover all the lead weights on it from fishing.   Seriously, there might be some brass hardware here and there but good luck, it's been there for over 50 years in very accessible water.