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Mobil Tankers
Broad Arrow - (1919-1943)
See also : SS BROAD ARROW THE LOSS  &  German Records off the Attack on the SS "Broad Arrow"
 "Broad Arrow" was build in 1917. Seen here on March 28th, 1918.
Built by the New York Shipbuilding Company at Camden, New Jersey, yard no. 175.
Keel laid on Apr 26, 1917, launched Dec 22, 1917.
Oil tanker (E.F.C.), 485 feet, 17862 grt , crew 43.
Acquired by the Navy Mar 12, 1918 and assigned to Naval Overseas Transportation Service.
Decommissioned Feb 24, 1919 at Brooklyn and turned over to US Shipping Board.
Operated by Standard Transportation Co.
Torpedoed and sunk by U-124 off Guyana.                 
( U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. )

USS Broad Arrow, a 17,862-ton (displacement) oiler, was launched at Camden, New Jersey, in late 1917 as the 7796 gross ton
commercial tanker of the same name. She was taken over by the Navy in mid-March 1918 and placed in commission a few days
later. During the next eleven months Broad Arrow was assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service, carrying fuel
and other cargo between the United States and France. She was returned to her owner, the Standard Transportation
Company, in late February 1919.
 "Broad Arrow", at position 29.48.N / 81.08 W.
( Photo T. R. Strobridge )
 "Broad Arrow", source, location and date unknown.
 "Broad Arrow", inbound October 24th, 1941.
( Photo US Coast Guard )

Information from Starke & Schell Ships-registers;

BROAD ARROW - 1918    USA   1Q (aft)     (11)
7,796 GRT for U. S. Shipping Board, Philadelphia     467.6 x 62.7
Tanker build by New York SB. Corp., Camden, N.J.     (3)     #175     215988
ordered by Standard Oil Co. of New York
(3/1918 - 2/1919  U. S. Navy  requisition - Naval Overseas Transportation Service #2503)
1919 - Standard Transportation Co., Inc., New York
1931 - Standard-Vacuum Transportation Co., Inc., New York
1935 - Socony-Vacuum Oil Co., Inc., New York
Torp. and sunk by U 124, 9 Jan 1943, in 07.35 N - 55.45 W, voyage Trinidad - Rio de Janeiro, fuel oil.

The Miramar Ship Index for "BROAD ARROW"
IDNo:
2215988
Year:
1918
Name:
BROAD ARROW
Keel:
Type:
Tanker
Launch Date:
22.12.1917
Flag:
USA
Date of completion:
03.1918

Tons:
7796
Link:
-
DWT:
Yard No:
175
Length overall:
Ship Design:
LPP:
142.5
Country of build:
USA
Beam:
19.1
Builder:
New York SB
Material of build:
Location of yard:
Camden, NJ
Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn):
1Q-11

Subsequent History:
-

Disposal Data:
Torpedoed and sunk by (U-124) 7.23 N / 55.48 W on 09.01.1943 (23 dead).
[ Voyage Trinidad-Rio de Janeiro, fuel oil ]

History:
ON
LR/IMO
ID
Year
Name
Tons
Change
Registered Owner
215988
2215988
1918
BROAD ARROW
7796
U.S. Govt.
215988
2215988
1918
BROAD ARROW
7796
1919
Standard Tptn Co Inc.
215988
2215988
1918
BROAD ARROW
7796
1931
Standard-Vacuum Tptn Co Inc.
215988
2215988
1918
BROAD ARROW
7796
1935
Socony-Vacuum Oil Co Inc.

Additional information from Uboat.net :

Name: Broad Arrow
Type: Steam tanker
Tonnage: 7.718 tons
Completed: 1918 - New York Shipbuilding Corp, Camden NJ
Owner: Socony-Vacuum Oil Co Inc, New York
Homeport: New York
Date of attack: 9 Jan, 1943
Nationality: American Fate: Sunk by U-124 (Johann Mohr)
Position: 07.35N, 55.45W - Grid EO 5354
- See location on a map -
Complement: 47 (23 dead and 24 survivors).
Convoy: TB-1
Route: Port of Spain, Trinidad - Rio de Janeiro
Cargo: 85111 barrels of diesel and fuel oil
History: -
Notes on loss: At 04.33 hours on 9 Jan, 1943, U-124 attacked the convoy TB-1and hit the Broad Arrow with two torpedoes and
sank the Birmingham City with one torpedo at 04.36 hours.
The Broad Arrow (Master Percy Louis Mounter) in station #31 was struck on the port side by the first torpedo at the after magazine.
The explosion tore open the entire after end of the vessel and she flooded rapidly and settled by the stern. The explosion probably
killed seven of the eight armed guards on board (the ship was armed with one 5 in and two .30 cal guns). Moments later the second
torpedo struck forward of amidships and set the cargo on fire, so that the tanker lit up the entire convoy. All hands standing on watch
on the bridge (including the master) and in the engine room were killed by the explosions. She began to settle more evenly and sank
stern first at 07.00 hours. The survivors of the eight officers and 31 men abandoned ship within five minutes without orders in two
lifeboats and two rafts. Some men stranded on the burning tanker and in the water, because the lifeboats were launched with only
a few men in it. Three officers, 22 crewmen and one armed guard were picked up by the American submarine chaser USS PC-577
about ten hours later and landed them at Paramaribo the next day. The Second Mate died on board and the Pumpman died from
burns in the hospital. Both were buried in Paramaribo.