Overview
Located south of the Point Loma peninsula on the US-Mexican border, the Hogan wreck rests just far enough from the San Diego dive boats to make it a real treat to dive. Originally 314 feet long, the ship now rests in about 125 feet of water in several pieces. Her bow section rests on its starboard side, and her stern sits upright. Most of the structure is collapsed; you can expect a consistent 125-foot dive forward of the stern section, which has the most relief of the whole site.
What to See
The Hogan wreck is covered in fish, most notably lingcod, and is home to several wolf eels. Coming up the anchor line after your dive, you might get a visit from a sea lion if you're lucky.
Typical Conditions
Advanced dive. Originally 314' long, now in pieces ~125'. Proof of advanced certification required.
History
USS Hogan (DD-178) was a Wickes-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was launched by Union Iron Works, San Francisco, California, on 12 April 1919. The remainder of her service Hogan assisted U.S. battleships in conducting torpedo firing exercises in the Pacific. She decommissioned at San Diego on 27 May 1922. Recommissioned 7 August 1940, Hogan underwent conversion to a high-speed minesweeper at Mare Island and was reclassified DMS-6. Beyond Caribbean/Eastern Coast convoy-escort and minesweeper training, her WWII service included Operation Torch (the Nov 1942 invasion of North Africa) and, in the Pacific, the invasions of the Marshalls, the Marianas (screening off Saipan, June 1944), and Luzon, in addition to Iwo Jima. The USS Hogan received six battle stars for World War II service. Reclassified AG-105 in mid-1945, she decommissioned 11 October 1945 and was used as a target ship for firing tests, sinking on 8 November 1945. Rediscovery: per diver Steve Lawson, the wreck was known to local fishermen by the 1980s; Larry Cochran (owner of the dive boat Lois Ann) tracked down the site, and a diver later recovered a piece of wreckage stamped "DD-178," confirming her identity.