List of shipwrecks of California

This is a list of shipwrecks located in Californian waters.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

## Del Norte County[edit]

Ship  | Flag  | Sunk date  | Notes  | Coordinates

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Brother Jonathan |  United States | 30 July 1865  | A paddle steamer that ran aground off Crescent City.  |
Emidio |  United States | 20 December 1941  | A tanker that was sunk by I-17 off Crescent City.  | 41°45′1.96″N 124°11′47.95″W﻿ / ﻿41.7505444°N 124.1966528°W﻿ / 41.7505444; -124.1966528﻿ (SS Emidio)

## Humboldt County[edit]

Main article: List of shipwrecks of Humboldt County, California

## Los Angeles County[edit]

Ship  | Flag  | Sunk date  | Notes  | Coordinates

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Ada Hancock |  United States | 27 April 1863  | A steam-powered tender suffered a boiler explosion in Los Angeles Harbor killing 26 of her 53 passengers. A common urban legend states that onboard was $125,000 in gold, transported by a Wells Fargo messenger, which was never recovered.[1] |
Ace I |  | 29 April 1948  | A barge that foundered in a storm and was scuttled as a hazard to navigation off San Pedro, Los Angeles.  |
Avalon |  United States | 16 September 1964  | A passenger ship that foundered under tow off Palos Verdes.  | 33°43′34″N 118°21′14″W﻿ / ﻿33.726°N 118.354°W﻿ / 33.726; -118.354﻿ (SS Avalon (1891))
USS Burrfish |  United States Navy | 19 November 1969  | A Balao-class submarine that was sunk as a target off San Clemente Island.  |
Charles F. Crocker |  | 1929  | A barquentine that was run aground and dismasted for a movie off Santa Catalina Island, sometime around 1929. The wreck was later burned, and then moved further inland by a tidal bore.  |
Dauntless |  | 3 October 1928  | A schooner that was blown up for the movie The Rescue off Catalina Harbor, Santa Catalina Island.  |
Diosa del Mar |  United States | 30 July 1990  | A wooden schooner that ran aground on Ship Rock at Santa Catalina Island.  | 33°27′46″N 118°29′31″W﻿ / ﻿33.462770°N 118.491925°W﻿ / 33.462770; -118.491925﻿ (Diosa del Mar)
Dominator |  United States | 13 March 1961  | A cargo ship that ran aground on Rocky Point, Palos Verdes.  | 33°46′26″N 118°25′42″W﻿ / ﻿33.77389°N 118.42833°W﻿ / 33.77389; -118.42833﻿ (SS Dominator)
F.S. Loop |  | 1947  | A barge that sank near Angel's Gate and was blown up as a hazard to navigation.  |
Georgia |  | 22 February 1966  | A barge that was scuttled off Redondo Beach.  |
Georgia Straits |  |  | A tug that sank under tow off Los Angeles.  |
USS Gregory |  United States Navy | 4 March 1971  | A Fletcher-class destroyer that was bombed as a target off San Clemente Island.  |
Johanna Smith |  United States | 22 July 1932  | A schooner that caught fire and sank off Long Beach.  |
USS John C. Butler |  United States Navy | 1971  | A John C. Butler-class destroyer escort that was sunk as a target off San Clemente.  |
USS Koka |  United States Navy | 7 December 1937  | A Bagaduce-class fleet tug that ran aground off San Clemente Island.  |
Margaret C. |  |  | A schooner that was blown up for a movie in Catalina Harbor, Santa Catalina Island, in about 1926.  |
Monfalcone |  | 31 August 1930  | A gambling ship that caught fire and sank off Long Beach.  |
USS Moody |  United States Navy | 21 February 1933  | A Clemson-class destroyer that was blown up in San Pedro Bay for the MGM movie Hell Below.  |
USS Moray |  United States Navy | 18 June 1970  | A Balao-class submarine that was sunk as a target off San Clemente.  | 33°25′30″N 117°37′44″W﻿ / ﻿33.425°N 117.629°W﻿ / 33.425; -117.629﻿ (USS Moray (SS-300))
USS Naifeh |  United States Navy | 11 July 1966  | A John C. Butler-class destroyer escort that was sunk as a target off San Clemente Island.  |
Ningpo |  | 1938  | A Chinese junk that was beached then burned at Santa Catalina Island.  |
Olympic II |  | 4 September 1940  | A barge that collided with the Japanese freighter Sakito Maru off San Pedro. The wreck was blown up as a hazard to navigation.  |
Palmyra |  |  | A schooner that was beached and burned off Santa Catalina Island, around 1938.  |
Princess Louise |  | 20 June 1990  | A cruise ship, later converted into a floating restaurant, that sank under tow about 16 nautical miles (30 km) southwest of Point Fermin, while en route to Catalina to be sunk as an artificial reef.  |
Sacramento |  | 2 December 1968  | A barge and ferry that foundered off Redondo Beach.  |
Sansinena |  Liberia | 17 December 1976  | An oil tanker that exploded at the Port of Los Angeles.  | 33°42′52″N 118°16′29″W﻿ / ﻿33.71444°N 118.27472°W﻿ / 33.71444; -118.27472﻿ (SS Sansinena)
S.N. Castle |  | 17 February 1926  | A barquentine that was burned and sunk in Catalina Harbor at Santa Catalina Island, for the movie Old Ironsides.  |
SueJac |  | 14 November 1980  | A schooner that ran aground on Casino Point, Santa Catalina Island.  |
USS Stribling |  United States Navy | January 1937  | A Wickes-class destroyer that was sunk as a target off San Pedro.  |
UB-88 |  United States Navy | 3 January 1921  | A Wickes-class destroyer that was sunk as a target off San Pedro.  |
USS Vammen |  United States Navy | 18 February 1971  | Sunk by a Condor missile strike off San Clemente Island.  | Lat 118-33.0 N, Long 32-54.05 W

## Marin County[edit]

Ship  | Flag  | Sunk date  | Notes  | Coordinates

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Labouchere |  United Kingdom | 14 April 1866  | A paddle steamer that ran aground off Point Reyes.  | 38°05′N 123°01′W﻿ / ﻿38.083°N 123.017°W﻿ / 38.083; -123.017﻿ (Labouchere (paddle steamer))
San Agustin |  Spain | November 1595  | A Manila galleon under the command of Sebastião Rodrigues Soromenho that was wrecked at anchor in Drakes Bay, the first shipwreck in California.  | 37°59′48″N 123°01′11″W﻿ / ﻿37.99677°N 123.01984°W﻿ / 37.99677; -123.01984﻿ (San Augustin)
Tennessee |  | 6 March 1853  | A passenger steamship that ran aground off Indian Cove, now renamed Tennessee Cove.

## Mendocino County[edit]

Ship  | Flag  | Sunk date  | Notes  | Coordinates

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Il’mena |  Russia | 19 June 1820  | A Russian-American Company maritime fur trade brig that wrecked at Point Arena. All people and cargo was saved and taken to Bodega Bay and Fort Ross.  |
Frolic |  | 1850  | An opium-trading brig wrecked near Point Cabrillo Light in 1850. Frolic was the subject of a 2003 episode of Deep Sea Detectives.  |
Josephine Woolcot |  | 1886  | A schooner wrecked by a storm off Mendocino City. Ship broke in half mid ship into two sections – bow and two mast / transon and two mast, sank with fantail pointing northwest in large surf.  |
Sea Foam |  | 28 January 1931  | A schooner that was wrecked at Point Arena.  |

## Orange County[edit]

Ship  | Flag  | Sunk date  | Notes  | Coordinates

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Charles Brown |  | 21 April 1932  | A barge that ran aground off Laguna Beach.  |
Elsie I |  | 17 October 1951  | A barge that capsized in a storm off Huntington Beach.  |
Foss 125 |  | 17 November 1958  | A barge that foundered in a storm off Laguna Beach.  |

## San Diego County[edit]

Ship  | Flag  | Sunk date  | Notes  | Coordinates

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USS Abercrombie |  United States Navy | 7 January 1968  | A John C. Butler-class destroyer escort that was sunk as a target off San Diego.  |
USS Archer-Fish |  United States Navy | 19 October 1968  | A Balao-class submarine that was sunk as a target off San Diego.  |
USS Aspro |  United States Navy | 16 November 1962  | A Balao-class submarine that was sunk as a target off San Diego.  |
USS Atlanta |  United States Navy | 1 October 1970  | A Cleveland-class light cruiser that was sunk as a target.  | 32°52′47″N 118°30′29″W﻿ / ﻿32.8796°N 118.5081°W﻿ / 32.8796; -118.5081﻿ (USS Atlanta)
USS Blackfin |  United States Navy | 13 May 1973  | A Balao-class submarine that was sunk as a target off San Diego.  |
USS Champlin |  United States Navy | 12 April 1936  | A Wickes-class destroyer that was sunk as a target off San Diego.  |
USS F-1 |  United States Navy | 17 December 1917  | An F-class submarine that was sunk in a collision off Point Loma.  |
USS Hogan |  United States Navy | 8 November 1945  | A Wickes-class destroyer that was bombed as a target off San Diego.  |
USS Knight |  United States Navy | 27 October 1967  | A Gleaves-class destroyer that was sunk as a target off San Diego.  |
USS Marcus |  United States Navy | 25 June 1935  | A Clemson-class destroyer that was sunk as a target off San Diego.  |
Monte Carlo |  United States | 1 January 1937  | An oil tanker that drifted onto Coronado in a storm.  | 32°40′26″N 117°10′23″W﻿ / ﻿32.674°N 117.173°W﻿ / 32.674; -117.173﻿ (SS Monte Carlo)
USS PC-815 |  United States Navy | 11 September 1945  | A PC-461-class submarine chaser that was sunk in a collision with USS Laffey off San Diego.  | 32°37′54″N 117°14′12″W﻿ / ﻿32.63167°N 117.23667°W﻿ / 32.63167; -117.23667﻿ (USS PC-815)
USS S-37 |  United States Navy | 20 February 1945  | An S-class submarine that broke tow and sank off Imperial Beach.  |
USS Sabalo |  United States Navy | 15 February 1973  | A Balao-class submarine that was sunk as a target off San Diego.  | 32°42′19″N 117°26′33″W﻿ / ﻿32.7052°N 117.4424°W﻿ / 32.7052; -117.4424﻿ (USS Sabalo (SS-302))
USS Sloat |  United States Navy | 26 June 1935  | A Clemson-class destroyer that was sunk as a target off San Diego.  |
Valiant |  | 13 December 1930  | A yacht that caught fire and sank off Descanso Beach.  |
USS Williams |  United States Navy | 29 June 1968  | A John C. Butler-class destroyer escort that sunk as a target off San Diego.  |
HMCS Yukon |  Maritime Command | July 2000  | A Mackenzie-class destroyer that was scuttled off Mission Bay as an artificial reef.  | 32°46′18″N 117°16′16″W﻿ / ﻿32.77154°N 117.27098°W﻿ / 32.77154; -117.27098﻿ (HMCS Yukon (DDE 263))

## San Francisco County[edit]

Ship  | Flag  | Sunk date  | Notes  | Coordinates

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USS Benevolence |  United States Navy | 25 April 1950  | A hospital ship that sunk in a collision with Mary Luckenbach.  |
USS Boston |  United States Navy | 8 April 1946  | A protected cruiser that was scuttled off San Francisco.  | 37°44′28″N 122°34′59″W﻿ / ﻿37.741°N 122.583°W﻿ / 37.741; -122.583﻿ (USS Boston (1884))
USS Bunting |  United States Navy | 3 June 1942  | A minesweeper that sank in a collision.  |
City of Chester |  United States | 22 August 1888  | A passenger ship that collided with RMS Oceanic in San Francisco Bay.  | 37°48′50″N 122°28′00″W﻿ / ﻿37.81389°N 122.46667°W﻿ / 37.81389; -122.46667﻿ (SS City of Chester)
City of Rio de Janeiro |  United States | 21 February 1901  | A steamship that struck a reef in San Francisco Bay.  |
USS Conestoga |  United States Navy | 1921  | An ocean-going tug that was declared "lost at sea" on 30 June 1921. The wreck was discovered in the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary in 2009, and formally identified as Conestoga in 2016.  |
USS Devilfish |  United States Navy | 14 August 1968  | A Balao-class submarine that was sunk as a target off San Francisco.  | 37°5′N 124°8′W﻿ / ﻿37.083°N 124.133°W﻿ / 37.083; -124.133﻿ (USS Devilfish (SS-292))
Escambia |  United Kingdom | 19 June 1882  | A steamboat that capsized off San Francisco.  |
USS Hornbill |  United States Navy | 30 June 1942  | A coastal minesweeper that collided with Esther Johnson in San Francisco Bay.  |
James Rolph |  United States | 2 August 1910  | A schooner that ran aground on rocks in San Pablo Bay.  | 37°35′00″N 122°31′03″W﻿ / ﻿37.5834°N 122.5176°W﻿ / 37.5834; -122.5176﻿ (James Rolph (ship))
King Philip |  United States | 1878  | A clipper that ran aground in heavy surf at Ocean Beach | 37°45′5.48″N 122°30′35.29″W﻿ / ﻿37.7515222°N 122.5098028°W﻿ / 37.7515222; -122.5098028﻿ (King Philip shipwreck)
USS Lewis |  United States Navy | 21 April 1966  | A John C. Butler-class destroyer escort that was sunk as a target.  |
Lydia |  | 1907  | A wrecked whaling ship located beneath King Street, San Francisco, that was discovered in 1980 during a sewer construction project.  | 37°46′51″N 122°23′18″W﻿ / ﻿37.78083°N 122.38833°W﻿ / 37.78083; -122.38833﻿ (Lydia (whaling bark))
Ohioan |  United States | 8 October 1936  | A cargo ship that ran aground near Seal Rock.  | 37°46′43″N 122°30′58″W﻿ / ﻿37.77861°N 122.51611°W﻿ / 37.77861; -122.51611﻿ (SS Ohioan (1914))
USS Pensacola |  United States Navy | May 1912  | A steamboat that was burned and sunk by the Navy in San Francisco Bay near Hunter's Point.  |
San Rafael |  United States | 30 November 1901  | A steamboat that collided with Sausalito off Alcatraz Island.  |
USS Stewart |  United States Navy | 24 May 1946  | A Clemson-class destroyer that was sunk as a target west of the Golden Gate.  | 37°44′56″N 122°43′44″W﻿ / ﻿37.749°N 122.729°W﻿ / 37.749; -122.729﻿ (USS Stewart (DD-224))
USS Tingey |  United States Navy | May 1966  | A Fletcher-class destroyer that was sunk as a target off San Francisco.  |
Zenobia |  United States | 20 April 1858  | A full-rigged ship that struck a rock off Point Bonita.  |

## San Luis Obispo County[edit]

Ship  | Flag  | Sunk date  | Notes  | Coordinates

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Montebello |  United States | 23 December 1941  | An oil tanker that was torpedoed by I-21 off Cayucos.  | 35°35′N 121°16′W﻿ / ﻿35.583°N 121.267°W﻿ / 35.583; -121.267﻿ (SS Montebello)

## San Mateo County[edit]

Ship  | Flag  | Sunk date  | Notes  | Coordinates

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Carrier Pigeon |  United States | 6 June 1853  | A clipper that ran aground near Pigeon Point. "On the night of June 6, 1853, the clipper ship Carrier Pigeon ran aground 500 feet off shore of the central California coast. The area is now called Pigeon Point in her honor. The Carrier Pigeon was a state-of-the art, 19th Century clipper ship. She was 175 feet long with a narrow, 34 foot beam and rated at about 845 tons burden. Launched in the fall of 1852 from Bath, Maine, the Carrier Pigeon ... started out on her maiden voyage on January 28, 1853. Out of Boston and bound for San Francisco, the Carrier Pigeon was under the command of Captain Azariah Doane." (Pigeon Point History). There were no deaths in the sinking.
Sir John Franklin |  | January 17, 1865  | Clipper ship. The ship was headed for San Francisco and in heavy fog struck rocks off of the point, since then renamed Franklin Point. The ship was destroyed, killing the Captain and eleven men. The point is located in Ano Nuevo State Reserve. The seamen were buried there; the officers in San Francisco.  |
Point Arena |  | 1913  | A steam schooner. Pieces of the hull are on display at Pigeon Point Lighthouse.  |
San Juan |  | 29 August 1929  | A passenger steamer that was rammed by S. C. T. Dodd off Pigeon Point.[2] | 37°11′N 122°25′W﻿ / ﻿37.183°N 122.417°W﻿ / 37.183; -122.417﻿ (San Juan)
USS Thompson |  United States Navy | February 1944  | A Clemson-class destroyer that was sunk as a target in San Francisco Bay.  | 37°33′10″N 122°09′27″W﻿ / ﻿37.5529°N 122.1576°W﻿ / 37.5529; -122.1576﻿ (USS Thompson (DD-305))

## Santa Barbara County[edit]

Ship  | Flag  | Sunk date  | Notes  | Coordinates

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Aggie |  | 4 May 1915  | A barquentine that ran aground at Santa Rosa Island.  |
USS Chauncey |  United States Navy | 8 September 1923  | One of seven United States Navy ships that ran aground off Lompoc in an incident known as the Honda Point Disaster.  | 34°36′07″N 120°38′39″W﻿ / ﻿34.602067°N 120.644109°W﻿ / 34.602067; -120.644109﻿ (Honda Point Disaster)
Chickasaw |  United States | 7 February 1962  | A cargo ship that ran aground on Santa Rosa Island.  |
Crown of England |  | 7 November 1894  | A steamship that ran aground off Santa Rosa Island.  |
Cuba |  United States | 7 September 1923  | A German steamboat that was seized by the United States in 1917, and eventually ran aground off San Miguel Island, on the same day as the Honda Point Disaster.  |
USS Delphy |  United States Navy | 8 September 1923  | One of seven United States Navy ships that ran aground off Lompoc in an incident known as the Honda Point Disaster.  | 34°36′07″N 120°38′39″W﻿ / ﻿34.602067°N 120.644109°W﻿ / 34.602067; -120.644109﻿ (Honda Point Disaster)
USS Fuller |  United States Navy | 8 September 1923  | One of seven United States Navy ships that ran aground off Lompoc in an incident known as the Honda Point Disaster.  | 34°36′07″N 120°38′39″W﻿ / ﻿34.602067°N 120.644109°W﻿ / 34.602067; -120.644109﻿ (Honda Point Disaster)
Goldenhorn |  | 12 September 1892  | A barque that ran aground off Santa Rosa Island.  |
Humble SM-1 |  | 25 November 1961  | A drillship that foundered off Santa Barbara.  |
USS McCulloch |  United States Navy | 13 June 1917  | A cutter that collided with Governor off Point Conception.  |
USS Nicholas |  United States Navy | 8 September 1923  | One of seven United States Navy ships that ran aground off Lompoc in an incident known as the Honda Point Disaster.  | 34°36′07″N 120°38′39″W﻿ / ﻿34.602067°N 120.644109°W﻿ / 34.602067; -120.644109﻿ (Honda Point Disaster)
Santa Rosa |  United States | 8 July 1911  | A steamship that ran aground at Point Arguello.  |
Sibyl Marston |  | 12 January 1909  | A schooner that ran aground off Lompoc.  | 34°39′13″N 120°37′03″W﻿ / ﻿34.653474°N 120.61747°W﻿ / 34.653474; -120.61747﻿ (Sibyl Marston (ship))
USS S. P. Lee |  United States Navy | 8 September 1923  | One of seven United States Navy ships that ran aground off Lompoc in an incident known as the Honda Point Disaster.  | 34°36′07″N 120°38′39″W﻿ / ﻿34.602067°N 120.644109°W﻿ / 34.602067; -120.644109﻿ (Honda Point Disaster)
Tokujomaru |  | March 1815  | Japanese vessel under Oguri Jukichi damaged off Japan and drifted across the Pacific. Survivors rescued by Forester near Point Conception.  |
USS Woodbury |  United States Navy | 8 September 1923  | One of seven United States Navy ships that ran aground off Lompoc in an incident known as the Honda Point Disaster.  | 34°36′07″N 120°38′39″W﻿ / ﻿34.602067°N 120.644109°W﻿ / 34.602067; -120.644109﻿ (Honda Point Disaster)
Yankee Blade |  United States | 1 October 1854  | A steamboat that ran aground at Point Arguello.  | 34°34′37″N 120°38′50″W﻿ / ﻿34.57694°N 120.64722°W﻿ / 34.57694; -120.64722﻿ (Yankee Blade)
USS Young |  United States Navy | 8 September 1923  | One of seven United States Navy ships that ran aground off Lompoc in an incident known as the Honda Point Disaster.  | 34°36′07″N 120°38′39″W﻿ / ﻿34.602067°N 120.644109°W﻿ / 34.602067; -120.644109﻿ (Honda Point Disaster)

## Santa Cruz County[edit]

Ship  | Flag  | Sunk date  | Notes  | Coordinates

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Palo Alto |  United States | 1929  | A concrete ship sunk in shallow water at Seacliff State Beach as an entertainment venue, and now serves as an artificial reef.  | 36°58′11″N 121°54′48″W﻿ / ﻿36.969592°N 121.913416°W﻿ / 36.969592; -121.913416﻿ (SS Palo Alto)

## Sonoma County[edit]

Ship  | Flag  | Sunk date  | Notes  | Coordinates

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Pomona |  United States | 17 March 1908  | A steamship that ran aground near Fort Ross Cove, Fort Ross.[3] | 38°30′37″N 123°14′44″W﻿ / ﻿38.510278°N 123.245556°W﻿ / 38.510278; -123.245556﻿ (SS Pomona)

## Ventura County[edit]

Ship  | Flag  | Sunk date  | Notes  | Coordinates

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USS Agerholm |  United States Navy | 18 July 1982  | A Gearing-class destroyer that was sunk as a target off San Nicolas Island.  | 32°45′N 119°32′W﻿ / ﻿32.750°N 119.533°W﻿ / 32.750; -119.533﻿ (USS Agerholm (DD-826))
USS Deperm |  United States Navy | 22 September 1982  | A degaussing vessel, sunk as a target.  | 32°58′N 119°41′W﻿ / ﻿32.967°N 119.683°W﻿ / 32.967; -119.683﻿ (USS Deperm (ADG-10))
Equator |  | 2 July 1949  | A fishing vessel that ran aground off Anacapa Island.  |
La Jenelle |  United States | 13 April 1970  | A cruise ship that was grounded off Port Hueneme, California.  |
USS Makassar Strait |  United States Navy | April 1961  | A Casablanca-class escort carrier that ran aground on San Nicolas Island.  |
USS Ulvert M. Moore |  United States Navy | 13 July 1966  | A John C. Butler-class destroyer escort that was sunk as a target off San Nicolas Island.  |
Winfield Scott |  United States | 2 December 1853  | A paddle steamer that ran aground on Anacapa Island.  |

## Citations[edit]

1. ^ Numismatist, The California (2011-05-17). "A Gold Coin Treasure in San Pedro Bay? - or - Just Another Tale of Wells Fargo?". CoinWeek. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
2. ^ "Shipwreck Database - San Juan". Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
3. ^ "S.S. Pomona Shipwreck Project". Indiana University. Retrieved 1 July 2012.

## References[edit]

* "Southern California Shipwrecks". California Wreck Divers. Retrieved 1 July 2012.

## Further reading[edit]

* Marx, Robert F. (1987). Shipwrecks in the Americas. New York: Dover. pp. 145–191. ISBN 0-486-25514-X.

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