Source "Shipwrecks of North Carolina" Gary Gentile 1992 For additional information buy the book Gary Gentile Productions PO Box 57137 Philadelphia PA 19111 Any Dive Can Be Dangerous. Smart Divers Know When NOT TO DIVE !!

Year Built	1920	Date Sunk	11 June 1942
Previous Name	Nora	Depth	90 feet
Gross Tonnage	9310	Dimensions	467'x62'x 31'
Vessel Type	Tanker	Power	Oil-fired Steam
Builder	N.Y. Ship Building Corp.	Official Designation	None
Owner	Standard Oil Co. of  N.J.	Location	26967.3
Home Port	Wilmington, DE	Location	40073.6
Cause of Sinking	Allied mines	Location

In Brief

After losing sight of their escort vessel the F.W. Abrahms wandered off course and into a Cape Hatteras minefied. After the first mine exploded against the hull the Abrahms sent an SOS that was received by their escort, the CGC 484 which turned around in response.

Unfortunately the low hull of the cutter was mistaken for that of a U-Boat and prompted the Abrahms to take evasive action to avoid further attack. To ground the ship to insure it didn't sink Captain Coumelis steered for Diamond Shoal, and the thick of the Allied mines, detonating 2 more mines. After 5 hours of rowing all 36 men landed ashore with no loss of life, the ship however was battered by heavy seas and all hope of salvage lost.

The masts that protruded above the surface made handy practice for the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point pilots and after they were demolished the Navy demolished the wreck to a depth of 40 feet in 1944.

The wreck lies in 2 large pieces that are separated by about 40 feet of soft silt that can be easily stirred and vis can change from good to non-existant in minutes. Corals are abundant and sea life abounds. The engine area has 20' relief and forward of the engine three boilers sit abreast crossing the width of the ship.

Forward of the break the appearance of the structure does not confrom to the lines of a ship, but there are valves, ladders and anchor links everywhere.