The Black Hawk was a 7,191-ton US Liberty ship, built 1943 and powered by a single 3-cylinder triple expansion engine. She measured 441ft by 57ft and was armed with a 4-inch stern mounted deck gun. On the 29th of Dec 1944, she was bound from Cherbourg for Fowey in ballast, part of convoy TBC 21 when hit by a torpedo. The blast wounded four of the ship´s 41 crew (one of whom died later) but there were no casualties among the 27-man armed guard. However, the damage caused the vessel to rupture and the stern third of the ship broke off and sank. Bizarrely though the remainder of the ship remained afloat and was towed to Warbarrow Bay and beached. Causing a hazard to be shipping the vessel was dispersed by explosives. However, today there are still masses of steel sections and plates up to 3m high. The bow section can be identified by the heavy anchor chain that runs almost 75m south to a 3-ton anchor. A pretty dive, usually with lots of life on it. Distance from Weymouth 8 miles.