On August 8th 1837, the whaler Wolf, an ex-royal navy gun brig, carrying 1,700 barrels of sperm oil, struck a submerged rock to the east of Lord Howe Island. The crew abandoned ship and Wolf capsized and sank in deep water with its valuable cargo and crew's possessions. Thereafter, Wolfe Rock bears testimony to the tragic event. On July 7th 2002, royal navy ship, HMS Nottingham, ran aground on the submerged but well-chartered Wolfe Rock and required towing back to the mainland. The Wolfe Rock stands up to navy strength.