UPDATE: I first published this in 2009. I thought it was worth an update, so I’ve added some better photos.
Note: Some of these photos are posted online as being at the Coolidge wreck when they are really from the nearby Million Dollar Point dump. I believe I have the photos under the correct locations, but feel free to correct me if I’m wrong.
1) Wreck of the SS President Coolidge. Built in 1931 as a luxury liner, the SS President Coolidge was drafted into WWII service and painted gray. While navigating the islands of the Republic of Vanuatu in the Pacific during the war, the Coolidge hit a cluster of recently deployed American mines. The ship listed to the right as more than 5,000 troops were forced to abandon it, leaving behind guns, helmet, jeeps, tanks, rations, medical supplies — all of which sank with the ship in 70-to-240 feet of water about 100 yards from shore.
This jeep is entombed in hold #2 at a depth of 110 feet:
The Yacht Lorelei Blog features these photos from 2012:
2) Million Dollar Point is another area in the Republic of Vanuatu where jeeps and other equipment was dumped. Located just off the coast of Espirito Santo Island, the area is full of “jeeps, six-wheel drive trucks, bulldozers, semi-trailers, fork lifts, tractors, bound sheets of corrugated iron, unopened boxes of clothing, and cases of Coca-Cola….” dumped by American troops as a way of disposing of the items. Learn more here. Below are two photos of jeeps:
The Yacht Lorelei Blog shared these two jeep photos from Million Dollar Point:
The water dump stuff seems remarkable in its state of preservation, especially considering the fact that this is off shore salt water, unprotected from storms.
It makes me sad just to look at
A neighbor WWII Veteran, as I grew up in Central Maine, used to tell the stories of these dumpings of brand new Jeeps, Trucks, Tanks and Supplies over the side of ships to make room for returning troops. His eyes would have tears, 20 years after the fact, at the waste he observed. The soldiers were told it was necessary to protect the American Economy so these would not be sold competing with new production after the war was done. I believe he went to his grave haunted by these visions. If you didn’t read “Learn More Here” in the link above, go back and absorb those details. Thanks, Dave