This is one of two competing recorded positions for HMS Anchusa, a convoy sloop sunk by U-54 west of Ireland on 16 July 1918. The fullest loss histories give 78 dead and 12 survivors, though totals differ slightly. This particular point is only a possible match.
Read the whole record
This is one of two competing recorded positions for HMS Anchusa, a convoy sloop sunk by U-54 west of Ireland on 16 July 1918. The fullest loss histories give 78 dead and 12 survivors, though totals differ slightly. This particular point is only a possible match.
The vessel and voyage
HMS Anchusa was the leading ship of a class of convoy sloops built for escort and submarine hunting. Launched on 21 April 1917, it displaced about 1,290 tons. It sailed from Lough Swilly on 14 July 1918, worked with a convoy and was then diverted to search for a reported German submarine.
How it was lost
At about 2.07 in the morning on 16 July, the German submarine U-54 hit Anchusa with two torpedoes. The sloop broke up and sank in about two minutes. Exploding boilers or depth charges may have increased the destruction, but the torpedo attack is the certain cause.
Deaths and survival
Twelve men survived. The fullest ship-loss histories give 78 killed from a complement of 90, while some published summaries differ by one and one surviving memorial list contains fewer names. The best working figure is therefore 78 dead, with the disagreement stated rather than hidden.
What remains
No surveyed hull description or uniquely identifying find was located for this point. Another Anchusa record lies roughly 25 kilometres away and is labelled probably, while this one says possibly. They appear to be rival positions for the same loss, not two ships. Until survey evidence settles it, neither point should be described as a certain wreck location.
Why it mattered
Anchusa was lost doing the escort and submarine-hunting work for which its whole class had been built. Its sinking in two minutes explains the great loss of life and shows the danger of leaving a convoy to chase a submarine report. The two competing map points also reveal how uncertain offshore wartime positions can remain.
Sources for this account
Sources checked 2026-08-15.
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