Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs

Latest Episodes:

The USS Cyclops w/Lara Zielin of Archive Unknown Mar 14, 2023

Show notes

I appeared as a guest on this episode of Archive Unknown, hosted by Lara Zielin. Join us as we discuss the curious disappearance of the USS Cyclops in 1918.

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Black Sam Bellamy & The Whydah Gally Mar 07, 2023

Show notes

Samuel Bellamy, or "Black Sam" Bellamy, was an extraordinarily successful pirate, albeit for a very short time. Called the "Robin Hood of the Seas," he abhorred violence, treated his victims humanely, and was very generous to his men. When he and his fleet captured the slave ship Whydah Gally, he scored a huge payday, but it all wound up lost for almost 300 years when the Whydah was wrecked in a storm off Cape Cod in 1717. This is the story of the Gentleman Pirate, a ship laden with riches, and the discovery of its treasure. Local historian Rob Skahan is my guest.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

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The Carlskrona: Pearl of the Swedish Navy Feb 21, 2023

Show notes

The Carlskrona was a 19th century corvette of the Swedish Navy. In 1846, the fast but unstable ship encountered a freak storm which came out of nowhere in the Florida Strait. The crew was not able to adjust the sails fast enough and the ship went down, with only 17 survivors ever making it back to Sweden. Author and historian Jens Kuhn is my guest.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

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The Wrecks of the U-53 Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

On October 7, 1916 the German U-Boat U-53 showed up unexpectedly at Newport Harbor, Rhode Island. World War 1 was raging, although the United States remained firmly neutral. The U-53 captain, Hans Rose, paid courtesy visits to local US Navy commanders, and in return had them visit his U-Boat. The visit was friendly and accommodating, if not a bit strange. Curious onlookers snapped photos and gathered their boats around the U-53. The next morning, the U-53 commenced sinking Allied ships, and within 24 hours the U-53 sank 3 UK ships, 1 Norwegian ship, and 1 Dutch ship. Seventeen US Destroyers were dispatched to rescue survivors, but, being neutral, did not fire on the U-53 and Rose slipped away. In total, the U-53 sank 78 ships from 1916 to 1918.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

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The USCGC Blackthorn Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

On the evening of January 28, 1980, the United States Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn was leaving Tampa Bay on its way to its home base in Galveston, Texas. It was a cool, calm, and pleasant night as the Blackthorn headed out. At the same time, the SS Capricorn was inbound to the bay. Through a series of missteps and miscommunications, the Blackthorn and Capricorn collided, almost head-on, killing 23 Coast Guardsmen. Rich's wife Dawn joins the show again as a guest.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

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The Achille Lauro Jan 10, 2023

Show notes

The Achille Lauro has a storied history from its beginnings as a Dutch-built ship in wartorn Netherlands. Several accidents and mishaps plagued the ship before being purchased by the Italian Flotto Lauro Line and transformed into a beautiful and stylish passenger liner. The Achille Lauro made international news in 1985 when it was hijacked off the coast of Egypt by members of the Palestinian Liberation Front, resulting in the death of Leon Klinghofer and a tense political standoff. In 1994 an engine fire erupted during a voyage from Genoa to South Africa. The fire raged out of control causing the passengers and crew to abandon ship. The Achille Lauro continued to burn and sank on December 2, 1994.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

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Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Merchandise is available!

⁠⁠⁠https://shop.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠⁠

You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at:

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The SS Eastland Dec 13, 2022

Show notes

On July 24th, 1915, the SS Eastland rolled on its side in the Chicago River, just 19 feet from the dock, killing 844 people. The ship, along with 4 others were scheduled to transport over 7000 employees of the Western Electric company to a fun-filled day at the company's annual outing. Paul Durica, Director of Exhibitions at the Chicago History Museum joins me.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

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Empress of Ireland: Canada's Titanic Nov 29, 2022

Show notes

The Empress of Ireland was a luxurious and beautiful steamship of the early 20th century, carrying passengers across the North Atlantic between Quebec City and Liverpool. She and her sister ship, the Empress of Britain, were an important cog during the peak of Canadian immigration. In the early morning hours of 29 May, 1914, the Empress of Ireland collided with the Norwegian ship Storstad in dense fog on the St. Lawrence River. Over 1000 people on the Empress of Ireland perished, and more passengers died than on the Titanic just two years prior. Because of the massive loss of life, she has been called "Canada's Titanic."

Dan Conlin, Curator of the Canadian Immigration Museum at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia joins me as my guest.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

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Hugo Vihlen: Record Breaking Sea Dog Nov 15, 2022

Show notes

In 1968, Hugo Vihlen broke the record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean in the smallest vessel when he crossed in his 6 foot long vessel April Fool. Thirty-five years later, at age 61, he again broke the record in his 5 foot 4 inch vessel Father's Day. He served as a combat pilot in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War, was a pilot for Delta Airlines, and wrote two books about his record breaking voyages. I had the pleasure of interviewing Hugo and hearing his first hand account of his experiences.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

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Wrecktoberfest Volume 2: Ghosts of the Queen Mary Oct 31, 2022

Show notes

The RMS Queen Mary long served as a luxury passenger liner for the Cunard White Star Line. Her speed and beauty made her one of the finest ships on the water, and she even served as a transport ship during World War 2. Since being retired to Long Beach, California, she has earned the reputation as being one of the most haunted places in the world. Many of the ship's crew and guests have claimed to have experienced paranormal activity throughout its long history.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠.

Go AD-FREE by becoming a Patreon Officer's Club Member!

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Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs Merchandise is available!

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You can support the podcast with a donation of any amount at:

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Join the Into History Network for ad-free access to this and many other fantastic history podcasts!

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