Identification & Site Information

  • Vessel Name(s): August F. Janssen; renamed M.F.D. 23 in 1901
  • U.S. Registry Number: 130711
  • Year Built: 1896
  • Year Lost: 1930 (sunk as a disposal in deep water after decommissioning)
  • Lives Lost: 0
  • Depth at Wreck: 72 ft (22 m)
  • Coordinates: 43° 00.940′ N, 87° 48.180′ W
  • Body of Water: Lake Michigan
  • Nearest City: Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
  • National Register Status: Eligible

Vessel Type

  • Class: Gas Screw / Fireboat (converted to auxiliary use)
  • Intended Use: Municipal fireboat for harbor firefighting
  • Propulsion: Steam screw (scrapped prior to sinking)

Description

The M.F.D. 23 was a wooden-hulled municipal fireboat, 110.5 ft (33.7 m) in length, with a 24.7 ft (7.5 m) beam and 10.2 ft (3.1 m) hold depth.

  • Gross Tonnage: 133 tons
  • Propulsion: Steam screw (original engines removed prior to scuttling)
  • Hull Construction: Wood, reinforced for fireboat operations
  • Notable Features:
    • Twin to M.F.D. 17 (formerly James Foley)
    • Equipped with firefighting apparatus and pumps when in service
    • Upright wreck with partially collapsed Stern, exposed rudder, and embedded propeller

History

  • Builder: Ribeoldt, Wolter & Co., Sturgeon Bay, WI
  • Home Port: Milwaukee, WI
  • Cost to Build: $32,800 (1896)
  • Operational Record:
    • Launched 1896, entered service May 15, 1897
    • Named for Assistant Fire Chief August F. Janssen, who died in the line of duty
    • Initially docked at Cherry Street Bridge, later at Menominee River Dock
    • In 1901, renamed M.F.D. 23
    • Served as Milwaukee’s third fireboat
  • Decommissioning & Disposal:
    • Replaced by Torrent in 1922
    • Engines removed and salvaged for parts for M.F.D. 17
    • Hull stripped and towed offshore, intentionally burned and scuttled in 1923

Final Disposition

  • Cause of Loss: Deliberate scuttling after decommissioning
  • Salvage & Recovery: Engines and equipment removed; Hull intentionally destroyed
  • Marine Board or Legal Action: None—official city disposal

Located By & Date Found

  • Discovery: 2005 by local Wisconsin divers
  • Current Wreck Condition:
    • Upright in 72 ft (22 m) of water
    • Sides opened and partially collapsed
    • Stern heavily damaged and rudder displaced
    • Propeller partially buried in lakebed

NOTMARs & Advisories

  • Notices to Mariners: None currently issued
  • Hazard Status: Low; wreck lies in open water, non-navigational hazard

Resources & Archival Links

Shore Dive Information

  • Entry: Offshore boat dive required
  • Depth Range: 65–72 ft (20–22 m)
  • Conditions:
    • Cold water (typically 40–50 °F / 4–10 °C)
    • Visibility varies 5–40 ft
    • Open-water and advanced divers only
  • Emergency Contact:
    • U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan: VHF Ch. 16 / +1 414‑747‑7100
  • Permits: No permit required for recreational diving; artifact removal prohibited

Conclusion

The M.F.D. 23 (August F. Janssen) represents an important chapter in Milwaukee’s maritime firefighting history. Its wreck is a rare example of a scuttled municipal fireboat on the Great Lakes. The site offers excellent structural Visibility for divers and provides a glimpse into early 20th-century urban maritime infrastructure. As a potential National Register site, it holds archaeological significance for the study of municipal vessels and fireboats of the era.

Keywords & Categories

  • Region: Lake Michigan, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Vessel Type: Fireboat, Gas/Steam Screw, Municipal Service Vessel
  • Cause of Loss: Deliberate scuttling after decommissioning
  • Material: Wood Hull
  • Period: 1890s–1920s Great Lakes Municipal Fleet
  • Dive Difficulty: Intermediate (72 ft, cold water, boat access)