USS Mohawk another artificial Florida reef

USS Mohawk, is a 50m long escort ship built in 1935 at the Pusey & Jones Corp. shipyard, Wilmington, Delawere. Today, the vessel, which is 77 years old, has lived to see a decision by Lee County authorities that will allow her to go to a well-deserved rest and at the same time become a tourist attraction in Southwest Florida.

-- Advertisement --

The outbreak of World War II found “Mohawk” in Cape May, New Jersey. As a member of the Atlantic Fleet she joined the Greenland Patrol and made a total of 14 attacks on enemy submarines between 27 August 1942 and 8 April 1945.

At the end of the war, USS Mohawk was moved to her home port of Cape May, where her armament was removed. In 1948, the escort ship was put up for sale. The next 30 years of service were spent piloting larger vessels on the Delaware River. After this time the Mohawk was acquired by Caribbean Transport Lines. This is where his story ends.

Years later, the escort ship was found by Frans Boeates (at the time CEO of Mohawk Memorial Musem), in one of Staten Island’s junkyards, where it had been rusting for 15 years. After making the necessary repairs, the Mohawk was towed to Miami, where it underwent an overhaul. From there it made its way to Key West, where it is still moored today at the Turman waterfront.

As usual, when a decision is made to sink another vessel and create an artificial reef, the local diving community, especially entrepreneurs running a diving business, show their joy. All hope that the new reef will attract even more tourists and contribute to the further development of the region.

The activities carried out in Florida can serve as an example for every coastal town that would like to revive local business and attract tourists. In order not to look too far, it is enough to mention the sinking of the Bryza cutter near Hel as an example.

Since 2009. The wreck of the Breeze has been one of the favourite sites visited by novice wreck divers. Set at shallow depths, not far from the shore, and fully prepared for exploration from the outside as well as the inside, it is a great training site and is one of the more frequent courses taken by dive transport units.

The situation is similar in the case of freshwater areas, where diving bases operate. Their greatest assets are sunken installations, wrecks of excavators, planes, helicopters, buses or cars. Therefore, it is worth conducting all kinds of activities aimed at creating similar sites. Apart from measurable economic benefits for the local community, such sunken wrecks are a habitat and shelter for local fauna.

Source: uscgcmohawk.org