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Esso Houston (1) - (1938 -1942)
The first "ESSO HOUSTON" was built in 1938. She was lost in World War II.
Her cargo capacity of 105,415 barrels was less than 1/5 of that of the second "ESSO HOUSTON".
The first "Esso Houston" as she appeared when delivered to her owners.
Sisterships are "Esso Bayonne", "Esso Bayway", "Esso Boston", "Esso Montpelier" and "Esso Concord".
"Esso Houston" is on the slipway of the Shipyard Federal SB. & DD. Co., Kearny, N.J., almost ready for launching.
"Esso Houston" is on the slipway of the Shipyard Federal SB. & DD. Co., Kearny, N.J., almost ready for launching.
"Esso Houston" is on the slipway of the Shipyard Federal SB. & DD. Co., Kearny, N.J., almost ready for launching.
Silhouette drawing "Esso Houston (I)".
A Federal Tanker Delivery.
Esso Houston, Federal's Hull No. 145 and the first of two tankers building at the big Kearney, N. J. yard for the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, was delivered on January 15 after satisfactory trials.
These ships aie of the Isherwood Arcform type and are built to the Isherwood system of longitudinalframing.
They are 450 feet long, 66 feet 6 inches beam, and 34 feet 6 inches deep, with a deadweight capacity of 12,800 tons.
Federal has (in addition to the remaining tanker on the above order) eight large tankers and six torpedo boat destroyers.
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The Miramar Ship Index for "ESSO HOUSTON"
IDNo:
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2236960
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Year:
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1938
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Name:
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ESSO HOUSTON
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Keel:
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7.7.1937
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Type:
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Tanker
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Launch Date:
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18.12.1937
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Flag:
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USA
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Date of completion:
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15.01.1938
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Tons:
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7698
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Link:
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-
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DWT:
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13058
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Yard No:
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145
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Length overall:
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Ship Design:
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LPP:
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134.1
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Country of build:
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USA
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Beam:
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20.3
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Builder:
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Federal
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Material of build:
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Location of yard:
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Kearny
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Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn):
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1ST-12
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Subsequent History:
-
Disposal Data:
Torpedoed and sunk 12.12 N / 57.25 W on 13.05.1942.
History :
ON
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LR/IMO
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ID
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Year
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Name
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Tons
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Change
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Registered Owner
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236960
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2236960
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1938
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ESSO HOUSTON
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7698
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-
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Standard Oil Co. NJ.
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ESSO HOUSTON - 1938, US, 1ST (aft)(12)
7,699 GRT for Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey, Wilmington, Del., 440.0 x 66.8
Tanker build by Federal SB. & DD. Co., Kearny, N.J. (1) #145, 236960
Torpedoed and sunk by U 162, on 13 May 1942, in 12.12 N - 57.25 W,
voyageAruba - Montevideo, fuel oil
Additional Information from Uboat.net :
Name: Esso Houston
Type: Steam tanker
Tonnage: 7.699 tons
Completed: 1938 - Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co, Kearny NJ
Owner: Standard Oil Co of New Jersey, New York
Homeport: Wilmington
Date of attack: 13 May, 1942
Nationality: American
Fate: Sunk by U-162 (Jürgen Wattenberg)
Position: 12.12N, 57.25W - Grid EE 8465
- See location on a map -
Complement: 42 (1 dead and 41 survivors).
Convoy: -
Route: Aruba (9 May) - Montevideo, Uruguay
Cargo: 81.701 barrels of fuel oil
History: -
Notes on loss:
At 02.34 hours on 13 May 1942, the unescorted Esso Houston (Master Trafton Fletcher Wonson) was hit by one torpedo from U-162
about 150 miles east of Barbados, just after lookouts spotted the U-boat crossing the bow of the tanker, which immediately put the
wheel hard right. The torpedo struck on the port side instead of the starboard side, about 25 feet aft of the bridge at the # 6 hatch and
blew oil over the after part of the ship. The engines were stopped and the damage was examined. It was realized that the back was
broken and the eight officers, 30 men and four armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in gun) abandoned ship in three lifeboats
and one raft. 20 minutes later a second torpedo struck amidships, destroying the ship. U-162 surfaced near the lifeboats, questioned
the crew, offered assistance and left. The U-boat returned to let the master know that one of the lifeboats was in sinking
condition near the stern of the tanker.
18 survivors in one boat were picked up by the Norwegian motor tanker Havprins 40 hours later, were transferred to the Latvian steam
merchant Everagra the next day and landed at St.Thomas, Virgin Islands on 18 May. 23 survivors on another boat made landfall
five days after the attack on St.Vincent Island. One armed guard died from injuries.