Carl D. Bradley (2) 1927 - 1958

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Built by American Shipbuilding Co., Lorain, OH, as hull # 797. Launched April 9, 1927 as CARL D. BRADLEY (2) for Bradley Transportation Co. of Rogers City, MI. The CARL D. BRADLEY (2) was the largest ship on the Great Lakes at the time of her construction and acknowledged as "Queen of the Lakes". Dimensions: 639' 00" loa x 65' 00" beam x 33' 00" depth; 10,028 GRT, 7,706 NRT. Cargo capacity 14,000 tons crushed stone or 12,000 tons coal. Powered by a General Electric turbo electric direct-drive generating 5,000 s.h.p. Sailed on maiden voyage arriving at the Port of Calcite on July 28, 1927.

Shortly after 5:30 pm on November 18, 1958 the CARL D. BRADLEY (2) broke up and foundered in a gale that generated up to 60 mph winds on northern Lake Michigan 12 miles southwest of Gull Island. Of the 35 crew members on board at the time of the sinking only 2 survived this tragedy; the CARL D. BRADLEY (2) now rests at a depth of 360 feet broken in two amidships.

Postcard view prior to launch.
(Courtesy of John Belliveau)

Launching April 9, 1927 at American Shipbuilding Co., Lorain, OH.
(From the Tom Manse collection)

Just launched April 9, 1927, Lorain, OH.
(From the Tom Manse collection)

"Longest boat on fresh water".
(Photo by A. E. Young from the Jim. Hoffman collection)

Postcard view.
(Paul C. LaMarre III collection)

Color variation of previous postcard view.
(Paul C. LaMarre III collection)

Postcard view of winter lay-up in Rogers City, MI. Note the interesting colorization of the fleet.
(From the William Forsythe Collection)

Downbound Detroit River.
(Photo by Kenneth E. Smith from the Tom Manse collection)

Loading at Calcite in Rogers City, MI 1930's.
(Photo by Erhardt Peters from the Marc Vander Meulen collection)

Bow view loaded.
(Photo by Father Peter Van der Linden from the Paul C. LaMarre Jr. collection)

Stern view.
(Photo by Father Peter Van der Linden from the Paul C. LaMarre Jr. collection)

At the Soo Locks.
(Photo from MHSD Archives)

July 11, 1943 Opening Day of the MacArthur Lock.
(From the Tom Manse collection)

Stern view July 11, 1943 Opening Day of the MacArthur Lock.
(From the Tom Manse collection)

Dry-dock view.
(From the Tom Manse collection)

Michigan Limestone fleet at lay up in Calcite, MI December 1944. Carl D. Bradley (2), John G. Munson (1), Irvin L. Clymer and T. W. Robinson.
(From the Steve Haverty collection)

Winter lay-up at Rogers City alongside W. F. White and B. F. Taylor.
(From the Gary Banas collection courtesy of Rich Weiss)

Winter lay-up at Rogers City alongside W. F. White and B. F. Taylor.
(From the Gary Banas collection courtesy of Rich Weiss)

Winter lay-up at Rogers City alongside W. F. White and B. F. Taylor.
(From the Gary Banas collection courtesy of Rich Weiss)

Underway loaded.
(From the Jim Hoffman collection)

Unloading at Port Huron, MI in 1952.
(Photo by S. B. F. from Boatnerd Archives)

Sailing in-ballast.
(From the Tom Manse collection)

Stern view.
(From the Tom Manse collection)

Underway.
(From the Jim Hoffman collection)

Ariel view.
(From the Brian Bluekamp collection)

Sailing in-ballast.
(From the Jim Hoffman collection)

Downbound Lake St. Clair.
(From the Jim Hoffman collection)

Deck view looking forward 1957.
(From the Brian Bluekamp collection)

Postcard aerial view passing under the Ambassador Bridge on the Detroit River.
(From the William Forsythe Collection)

Postcard View upbound Port Huron late 1950's.
(Photo by Paul Michaels from the Paul C. LaMarre III collection)

November 1, 1957 taken from Mackinaw Bridge Opening Day ceremonies.
(Photo by Gordon Macaulay from the Jim Hoffman collection)

Stern view November 1, 1957 taken from Mackinaw Bridge Opening Day ceremonies.
(Photo by Gordon Macaulay from the Joe Komjathy collection)

Carl D. Bradley lifeboat on Beaver Island, August 2008.
(Photo by Roger LeLievre)

Waterline & full hull scale drawings depicting appearance from late 1950's.
(Drawings by John Belliveau)

While stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army in 1958 Geri Slater (a former Great Lakes sailor) had heard the news about Carl D. Bradley sinking. He created this sketch drawing only from memory of what the Bradley looked like.
(Drawing by Geri Slater courtesy of Al Slater)