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ESSO International Tankers 1910-1919
Ampetco (1) - (1919-1923)
"Ampetco (1)" was build in 1918 and laid down for American Petroleum Co., Rotterdam.
Came into service for the Standard Oil Co. (New Jersey), New York in 1919.
 "Ampetco (1)". Which was built at the Sparraws Point Plant, Sparrows Point, Md., Ltd. with its camouflage coat.
It was launched March 16th, 1918.
( Photo Copyright NARA, thanks to Aryeh Wetherhorn )
"Ampetco (1)".
"Ampetco (1)".
"Ampetco (1)", seen here as "Cities Service Empire".

Additional Info by Starke & Schell Registers :

AMPETCO - 1918      USA    1Q (aft)     (10½)
8,301 GRT for U. S. Shipping Board, Baltimore, Md.      464.7 x 60.2
Tanker build by Bethlehem SB. Corp., Sparrow's Point, Md.     (5)     #172        216233
laid down for American Petroleum Co., Rotterdam, NL
1919 - Standard Oil Co. (New Jersey), New York
1923 - American Petroleum Co., Antwerp, BE
1928 - CITIES SERVICE EMPIRE  Cities Service Transportation Co., Inc., New York, USA
1937 - Cities Service Oil Co., Inc., New York
Torp. and sunk by U 128, 22 Feb 1942, in 28.25N-80.02W, (25 miles north of Bethel Shoals),
voyage Port Arthur - Philadelphia, refined products.

The Miramar Ship Index for "AMPETCO"
IDNo:
2216233
Year:
1918
Name:
AMPETCO
Keel:
Type:
Tanker
Launch Date:
16.03.1918
Flag:
USA
Date of completion:
05.1918

Ton:
8301
Link:
-
DWT:
11,600
Yard No:
172
Length overall:
141.61
Ship Design:
LPP:
141.6
Country of build:
USA
Beam:
18.4
Builder:
Bethlehem
Material of build:
Location of yard:
Sparrow's Point
Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn):
1Q-10.5

Subsequent History:
1928 CITIES SERVICE EMPIRE.

Disposal Data:
Torpedoed and sunk 28.25 N / 80.02 W on 22.02.1942 ( 11 dead ).

History:
ON
LR/IMO
ID
Year
Name
Tons
Change
Registered Owner
216233
2216233
1918
AMPETCO
8301
U.S. Govt .
216233
2216233
1918
AMPETCO
8301
1919
Standard Oil Co of New Jersey
2216233
1918
AMPETCO
8301
1923
American Petroleum Co.
216233
2216233
1918
CITIES SERVICE EMPIRE
8301
1928
Cities Service Tptn Co Inc.
216233
2216233
1918
CITIES SERVICE EMPIRE
8301
1937
Cities Service Oil Co Inc.

Additional information from Uboat.net :

Name: Cities Service Empire
Type: Steam tanker
Tonnage: 8.103 tons
Completed: 1918 - Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp, Sparrow´s Point MD
Owner: Cities Service Oil Co, New York
Homeport: New York
Date of attack: 22 Feb, 1942
Nationality: American Fate: Sunk by U-128 (Ulrich Heyse)
Position: 28.25N, 80.02W - Grid DB 9439
- See location on a map -
Complement: 50 (14 dead and 36 survivors).
Convoy: -
Route: Port Arthur, Texas - Philadelphia
Cargo: 9400 barrels of crude oil
History: Built as Ampetco, 1928 renamed Cities Service Empire
Notes on loss: At 11.51 hours on 22 Feb, 1942, the unescorted Cities Service Empire (Master William Faucett Jerman, Jr.) was hit
by two torpedoes from U-128 about 25 miles north of Bethel Shoals off the Florida coast. The tanker had maintained a nonevasive
course at 10 knots in moderate to heavy seas and had been missed by the first four torpedoes. The torpedoes struck the vessel amidships
at the after pump room deep in the ship´s bowles on the starboard side. Fire broke out immediately and within seconds the ship and the
water around the tanker were ablaze. The armed guards (the ship was armed with one 5in, two .50cal and two .30cal guns) were driven
away from their guns and the master gave the order to abandon ship after 10 minutes. All lifeboats had been destroyed by the fire and
only two rafts could be launched. Most of the crew of eight officers, 33 men and nine armed guards jumped overboard.
The US Coast Guard cutter USS Vigilant (WPC 154) reached the burning ship and the commanding officer saw three men at the bow
of the tanker. Nosing his ship up to the burning tanker, some men crawled aboard the ship and battled the flames until they rescued
two of them. But before they could go back for the third, the tanker exploded, showered the cutter with unignited oil from stem to stern,
broke in two and sank at 12.10 hours. The master, three armed guards and ten crewmen died. The 34 survivors on the rafts were later
picked up by the USS Biddle (DD 151) and taken to Fort Pierce, Florida.