Auke Visser's International Esso Tankers site | home
L. J. Drake - (1918-1942)
Tanker "L. J. Drake" which disappeared in the Carribean Sea.
"L. J. Drake".
The Miramar Ship Index for "L.J. DRAKE"
IDNo:
|
2216986
|
Year:
|
1918
|
Name:
|
L.J. DRAKE
|
Keel:
|
|
Type:
|
Tanker
|
Launch Date:
|
27.07.1918
|
Flag:
|
USA
|
Date of completion:
|
08.1918
|
Tons:
|
6836
|
Link:
|
-
|
DWT:
|
9845
|
Yard No:
|
5
|
Length overall:
|
132.74
|
Ship Design:
|
|
LPP:
|
127.9
|
Country of build:
|
USA
|
Beam:
|
17.4
|
Builder:
|
Ames SB & DD Comp.
|
Material of build:
|
|
Location of yard:
|
Seattle
|
Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn):
|
1ST-10.5
|
|
|
Subsequent History:
-
Disposal Data:
Torpedoed by U-68 and sunk 15.40 N / 68.00 W on 05.06.1942 (41 dead)
History :
ON
|
LR/IMO
|
ID
|
Year
|
Name
|
Tons
|
Change
|
Registered Owner
|
216986
|
|
2216986
|
1918
|
L.J. DRAKE
|
6836
|
-
|
U.S. Govt.
|
216986
|
|
2216986
|
1918
|
L.J. DRAKE
|
6836
|
1919
|
Standard Oil of NJ.
|
No Sisterships.
Additional Info from Starke & Schell registers :
1918 - L. J. DRAKE USA 1ST (aft)(10½)
6,836 GRT For U. S. Shipping Board, Seattle 419.6 x 57.2
Tanker build by Ames SB. & DD. Co., Seattle, (8), #5, 216986
laid down for Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey
1919 - Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey, New York
1927 - Standard Shipping Co., Inc., Wilmington, Del.
1935 - Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey, Wilmington, Del.
Torpedoed and sunk by U 68, 5 June 1942, in the Caribbean, voyage Aruba - San Juan, P.R.
( posted missing, sailed from Aruba the previous day ).
Additional information from Uboat.net :
Name: L.J. Drake
Type: Steam tanker
Tonnage: 6.693 tons
Completed: 1918 - Ames Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co, Seattle WA
Owner: Standard Oil Co of New Jersey, New York
Homeport: Wilmington
Date of attack: 5 Jun, 1942
Nationality: American
Fate: Sunk by U-68 (Karl-Friedrich Merten)
Position: 17.30N, 68.20W - Grid ED 1749
- See location on a map -
Complement: 40 (40 dead - no survivors)
Convoy: -
Route: Aruba (4 Jun) - San Juan, Puerto Rico
Cargo: 72.961 barrels of gasoline
History: -
Notes on loss:
At 20.49 hours on 5 Jun, 1942, U-68 fired a spread of three torpedoes at the unescorted L.J. Drake (Master Peter Nielsen)
and hit her with all three after 45 seconds. The tanker exploded in flames and afterwards nothing remained but pieces of
wreckage. None of the eight officers, 26 crewmen and six armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, one 3in, two .50cal
and two .30cal guns) survived.