Jan. 20, 2026

The Secrets of RMS Niagara

The Secrets of RMS Niagara
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The Secrets of RMS Niagara

The RMS Niagara struck a German mine and sank on January 19th, 1940 with 590 gold bars on board.

The RMS Niagara was a trans-Pacific ocean liner of the Canadian-Australasian Line, lost during World War II after striking a German mine off the coast of New Zealand in 1940. While all on board were evacuated safely, the ship went down with 590 gold bars intended as payment to the United States for war munitions.

This episode includes the history of the RMS Niagara, the circumstances of its loss during World War II, and the remarkable salvage effort to recover the gold.

The RMS Niagara was one of the most significant shipwrecks of World War 2 involving a passenger ship, and one of the most valuable salvage operations in maritime history.

Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes, notes, and merchandise can be found at ⁠⁠shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠⁠.


Original theme music by ⁠⁠Sean Sigfried⁠⁠.


**No AI was used in the production of this episode.


Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs is a maritime history podcast about shipwrecks, tragic loss, and incredible accomplishments on the world's oceans and waterways.


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