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PACIFIC CONQUEST OIL
SS John D. Archbold
One of the largest vessels in the Esso fleet, the John D. Archbold squeezed through many tight spots and visited many of the Navy bases and oiler rendezvous in the Pacific. She was always a welcome sight because of her impressive 22,600 tons and large bulk carrying capacity. In the war years she delivered safely 9,991,513 barrels, or 419,643,546 gallons, of cargo.
When war broke out on September 3, 1939, the John D. Archbold was en route from New York to Baton Rouge; she was commanded by Captain August Randall and her engineroom was in charge of Chief Engineer Timothy F. McEligot. By the end of the year, traveling coastwise, she had delivered 872,504 barrels of crude oil to refineries on our eastern seaboard.
In the years 1940 and 1941 the John D. Archbold continued in the western Atlantic service, again sailing coastwise, except for a voyage to Cartagena in September, 1941, and one to Las Piedras in October of the same year. In that period of time she delivered 4,851,105 barrels of crude oil without mishap.
Wartime Transatlantic Runs
On April 23, 1942, she was time chartered to the War Shipping Administration. On November 1, a week before the Allies landed in North Africa, the John D. Archbold left New York for Glasgow, Scotland, on her first Atlantic crossing, with 132,156 barrels of fuel oil. Returning to New York on December 12, she was placed in dry dock and given a complete overhauling.
In 1943 the Archbold resumed North Atlantic runs, making three voyages from Halifax to Glasgow. On November 4, 1943, she left New York for Curacao and from this loading port she carried out far ranging missions in the Pacific until November 27, 1944, when she arrived at Melville, R. I. On December 23, 1944, she departed from New York for Curacao. Before April 23, 1945, two days after the Russian army entered Berlin, she crossed the Atlantic three times - twice to Glasgow and once to Thames Haven. In rhe remaining war months, the tanker traveled from New York to Curacao and made two round trips from Curacao to the Canal Zone. On September 3, 1945, 24 hours after V-J Day, she was tied up at Ocean Pier, W^illemstad, Curacao, awaiting orders to take on another cargo of Navy fuel.
While the John D. Archbold was under the command of Captain Frans G. M. Anderson and Chief Engineer Timothy F. McEligot was in charge of her engineroom, several incidents took place during coastwise runs in the treacherous days of 1942.
Got Away From Sub
"I was six days' sailing behind the Esso Bolivar," Captain Anderson said, "and heard about her torpedoing over the radio. We left New York on March 11, 1942, bound for Curacao. I intended to go through Mona Passage, but because of the attack on the Bolivar, I changed my course and went into Key West, where we received new orders to pass through Yucatan Channel. As we were taking a noon observation in the Caribbean, we saw a submarine coming to the surface about 4 miles astern of us. I telephoned to Chief Engineer McEligot for more speed and we managed to get away. This happened off San Pedro, Dominican Republic.
"Our voyages were mainly coastwise, but included trips to Panama and Colombia. We had not been armed up to this time and in order to get safely through the submarine infested coastal waters we tried to reach ports at night. Some of the safe havens we used were Galveston, Pilottown, Mobile, Charleston, and Chesapeake Bay.
Warnings in the Gulf
"About three months after Aruba and Curacao were shelled, February 16 and 19, 1942, I took the John D. Archbold into Mobile. Although four submarines were reported operating in the Gulf, we managed to elude them. We received warnings each day, in code, telling us the positions of the submarines, and we changed our course accordingly. I was scheduled to go to Panama City, Fla., and then to Mobile, but because of a message that the U-boats were operating just outside Panama City, I went directly to Mobile, where the vessel was due for overhaul. After repairs were completed and a 5-inch gun mounted on the stern, a Navy gun crew of 6 reported. We felt better after that."
In the latter part of 1943 the John D. Archbold became one of the tankers that made up the long supply lines to our fighting fleets in the Pacific. Leaving New York on November 4, 1943, she did not return to a continental United States port until November 27, 1944, a period of almost 13 months. During this time the Archbold traveled 78,506 nautical miles and delivered 842,416 barrels of special Navy fuel to the fleet oilers. While doing this she made 10 passages through the Panama Canal.
On November 15, 1943, a fortnight after the American landing on Bougainville and a week after the beginning of the campaign for Empress Augusta Bay, the John D. Archbold left Curacao. Under the command of Captain Harry F. Murray, with Chief Engineer Sigurd Steffensen in charge of her engineroom, she started her first long journey of 11,760 nautical miles to the island of Bora Bora in the Society Group, which includes its famous neighbor, Tahiti.
Color Picture
To quote Ship's Clerk John A. Brewin: "There was an arresting contrast of color as the large tanker, painted war gray, sailed into the turquoise waters of the narrow, dangerous cliannel through the coral reefs and moored in the lagoon against the background of jungle green.
"It had been an uneventful 27 days' trip, broken only by a visit and challenge from a giant Navy flying boat on patrol from the Gralapagos Islands; but while the Archbold was at sea, American forces landed on Makin and Tarawa - November 21-24.
"At Bora Bora, the cargo of the John D. Archbold was discharged through two 8-inch shore lines a quarter mile in length.
"On December 13 the John D. Archbold left the island for her return trip of 28 days to Curacao to load another cargo of fuel for the Navy, which required oil in tremendous quantities. The invasion of New Britain began on December 15.
"This voyage took the officers and men through the Christmas and New Year's holidays and, although far from home, they were made to forget that fact for a short time through the efforts of Steward Peter Gomes, who prepared a delicious Christmas dinner with all the trimmings."
Christmas Dinner
Menu for Dinner, John D. Archbold, Christmas Day, 1943:
During the transit of the Panama Canal, fresh water was pumped aboard from Gatun Lake tor delivery to the arid isle of Curacao.
Continuing Mr. Brewin's story:
"After loading 140,314 barrels of fuel oil at Curacao, Captain Murray received Navy orders to proceed to New Caledonia, and we sailed on January 11, 1944. When we were several days out, a diversion message was picked up by Radio Operator Nils O. Gjerde; the course was altered and the John D. Archbold headed for Funafuti in the Ellice Islands. This voyage was traveled alone, the only visitor being the same Navy plane which had previously flown out from the Galapagos to challenge us. The big flying boat swooped out of the sky and circled until the vessel's identification signal was hoisted on the halyard."
While the tanker was at sea. United States forces occupied Majuro on February 1 and on the 8th, the capture of Kwajalein was completed.
In the Lagoon at Funafuti
"Funafuti was sighted immediately after daybreak of February 14, 1944," Mr. Brewin said. "It looked at first like a small speck on the horizon. As the ship approached, the men on board could make out many hundreds of masts rising into the sky. Sea passage was ended at 8:24 a.m. and orders were received to discharge into the Navy oiler USS Neshanic, w^hich was on her way to meet us. At 4:34 p.m. of the same day the Neshanic arrived and took part of our cargo On the next afternoon the Navy oiler USS Saugatuck came alongside to receive the remaining quantity of fuel, and on February 18 we got under way for the long return trip of 7,099 sea miles.
"During this stay in the lagoon of Funafuti the men were not allowed shore liberty, but the officers of the two Navy oilers were thoughtful enough to invite all members of the crew of the John D. Archbold to see the motion pictures shown nightly on their vessels. This much-needed diversion was a boon and helped the men relax. When the ship arrived at Curacao on March 19, 68 days had elapsed without shore liberty."
The voyage which followed was a still longer haul for the veteran tanker as she rolled and splashed her way through rough seas. Auckland, New Zealand, was the next discharge point. On April 26, while the Archbold was running in heavy weather, her starboard after lifeboat and davits were washed away. Later, another big sea damaged the winch of No. 1 lifeboat.
After discharging part of her cargo at the Shell Oil Company's Western Wharf in the City of Auckland, the John D. Archbold proceeded to the navy yard at Devonport, where she finished discharging. The tanks were drained on May 1 and the missing lifeboat was replaced. With other minor repairs made, the vessel was considered seaworthy for the passage back to Curacao.
On her next Pacific voyage, starting from Curacao on June 7, the Joh n D. Archbold was again diverted. Radio Operator Gjerde received on July 12 the diversion message sending her to Majuro, in the Marshall Islands. Upon arrival at Majuro, the Archbold joined her first Pacific convoy and in company with two other ships and an escort vessel made her way slowly through the calm waters of the South Pacific, arriving on July 22 at Eniwetok, where cargo was transferred into two Navy oilers, USS Patnxent and USS Signal.
There was no shore liberty for the members of the crew of the John D. Archbold at Eniwetok, but once-more they saw movies on Navy tankers.
Old Friends Meet
"In this harbor," Brewin said, "there were a great many ships of all kinds and descriptions. One that was anchored not far from the John D. Archbold was the famous USS Cimarron. (The Cimarron was the first of twelve National De-fense Features tankers built by ^the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey in collaboration with the U. S. Navy and U. S. Maritime Commission. The vessel, with two sisterships, the Neosho and the Platte, went directly to the Navy upon completion.)
"On the bridge of the smart looking, heavily armed Cimarron was an officer familiar to most Esso men, Commander Abbo H. Kooistra, USNR, an Esso master in peacetime. He called to pay his respects to his friend Captain Murray, who invited him to dinner. Commander Kooistra told many interesting stories of his experiences in the Pacific.
"The return voyage was made in 38 days, and sea passage ended on August 30, 1944 at Juliana Pier of the Shell Oil Company in Curacao.
"On the way back to Balboa there was much talk of home. Everyone knew that the John D. Archbold would not be allowed to plow her way through the warm waters of the Pacific again without a good hull cleaning job, and it was hoped that the overhauling would be done in an American yard. These hopes were dashed when Captain Murray was ordered to place her in the Beatrix Dry Dock at Curacao. The ship was scraped and painted, one propeller blade was renewed, leaky rivets were checked, and she was once again fit for the Pacific."
Back to the Pacific
The next voyage of the John D. Archbold started from Curacao on September 5, 1944; she discharged at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, and returned to Curacao on November 16, traveling 15,828 sea miles and delivering 140,203 barrels of fuel oil to the U. S. Navy.
In the meanwhile, great events occurred in the Pacific. Landings of U. S. forces were made on Morotai, Peleliu, Angaur, and Ulithi, and the Battle for Leyte Gulf had been won.
At Espiritu Santo the crew of the Archbold were given shore liberty, which broke up the long voyage. Discharge was made into Navy barge YO 183, USS Celtic (AO 137), and USS Raccoon (IX 127). Departure was taken on October 13 and the John D. Arch-bold arrived at Caracas Bay, Curacao, on November 16, with orders to load for New York. The trip to the States was uneventful; however, a diversion message was received sending the ship to the Melville, R. I., Naval Base. After discharging all cargo at Melville, the tanker arrived at New York on November 29, just one year and 26 days after leaving that port.
V-E Day Celebration
On May 8, 1945, under the command of Captain Arnult Hartman, with Chief Engineer Frank J. Bur-chalewski in charge of her engineroom, the John D. Archbold steamed into Glasgow, Scotland - just in time to take part in the celebration of V-E Day.
To quote Captain Hartman:
"Whistles were tied down and were not let up for the rest of the night."
The wartime masters of the John D. Archbold were Captains August Randall, James W. Fraser, Maurice W. Carter, Andrew W. Ray, Frans G. M. Anderson, Edward V. Peters, Herbert A. Nelson, Charles Warner, Harry F. Murray, Andrew Weiler, Roland Whittom, and Arnulf Hartman.
Her chief engineers during the same period were Timothy F. McEligot, Walter M. Christiansen, Horace L. Wilson, Lawrence Erhard, Adam E. Kraft, Sigurd Steffensen, Frank J. Burchalewski, and Edward A. Snyder.
From the outbreak of World War II, September 3, 1939, until the cessation of hostilities, September 2, 1945, the John D. Archbold made the following transportation record:
The SS John D. Archbold was built in 1921 by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company at Newport News, Va. Her sistership was the Wm. Rockefeller.
A twin-screw vessel of 22,600 deadweight tons capacity on international summer draft of 31 feet, 8 1/3 inches, the John D. Archbold has-an overall length of 572 feet, 6 inches, a length between perpendiculars of 555 feet, a moulded breadth of 75 feet, and a depth moulded of 43 feet, 3 inches. With a cargo carrying capacity of 146,745 barrels, her assigned pumping rate is 7,000 barrels an hour.
Her triple expansion engines, supplied with steam by three Scotch boilers, develop 4,100 indicated horsepower and give her a classification certified speed of 10.3 knots.
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