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Wreckhunter.net |
Hunting New England Shipwrecks
USS PE-56
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USS PE-58
Similar to PE-56
(U.S. Navy photo)
The table below provides historical and statistical data on the vessel. Some of the information may be incomplete. If you have additions or corrections, please e-mail us at the address listed below.
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Shipwreck Data |
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| Vessel Name | USS PE-56 |
| Other Names | |
| Vessel Type | Patrol Escort (Eagle Boat) |
| Owner | U. S. Navy |
| Length / Beam / Draft (feet) | 200' / 25' / 13' |
| Tonnage | 430 |
| Hull Construction | Steel |
| Propulsion | Steam / Screw |
| Cargo | |
| Built | 1919 by Ford Motor Co., Detroit, MI |
| Date of Loss | April 23, 1945 |
| Reason for Loss | For years the official U.S. Navy record stated that the PE-56 sank as a result of a boiler explosion. Recently, the Navy announced that the vessel was actually sunk by the German submarine U-853. Several weeks after sinking the PE-56, the U-853 sank the collier Black Point off the Rhode Island coast. Following the Black Point sinking, the Navy depth charged and destroyed the U-853. For more information, see our U-853 and Black Point data pages. |
| Fatalities | 49 (13 Survivors) |
| Location | 3 miles off Cape Elizabeth, ME |
| Coordinates (Lat/Lon) | 43-30-00.31 N / 070-05-58.16W (NOAA AWOIS) |
| Coordinates (Loran C) | |
| Water Depth (feet) | |
| Typical Visibility (feet) | |
| Wreck Condition | |
| Diving Considerations | |
| Other Information | |
Attention Divers The information on this page was obtained from a variety of sources. Although we have attempted to make it as accurate as possible, it may contain errors. For your personal safety, use extreme caution when diving on this wreck. For more information on this wreck's location and history, and water and diving conditions in the area, contact local dive shop personnel, dive charter boat operators and local fishermen. Also check out the other shipwreck Websites listed on our Favorite Links page.
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