BAJA CALIFORNIA Key West

The Honduran steamship Baja California was built in 1914 by R. Thompson & Sons, Sunderland, England. She was 265.6 feet long, had a 38.5 foot beam and displaced 1,648 gross tons. The Baja California was a banana boat owned by Mayan S.S. Corporation. She was powered by a single 175 nhp triple expansion engine and her cargo of bananas was transported ventilated rather than cooled. In 1931 she was sold to Mayan SS Corp., a subsidiary of United Fruit Co. On July 19, 1942, at 6:45 AM, the Baja California was torpedoed just forward of midships and sunk by the German submarine U-84, commanded by Captain Uphoff. At the time she was en route from New Orleans to Key West, with a general cargo including tobacco. Three of her crew members were killed in the incident. 
According to diver, Dale Sanders, the Baja California's main wreckage now rests in 114 feet of water and comes to within 92 feet of the surface. She sits upright with a 40 degree port list, and her decks have collapsed. The Baja California's bow section is severed and lies 50 yards away from her main wreckage. This wreck is great for artifact hunters and is often frequented by large fish.

Photos: The Baja California was265.6 feet long and had a 38.5 foot beam. Photo courtesy Steamship Historical Society Collection, University of Baltimore Library.
Diver Peter Jensen holds a porthole he recovered from the Baia California. Photo bv Alexis Jensen.

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