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Pan-Pennsylvania (2)
T3-S-BF1
Built November 1943 by Welding Shipyards, Norfolk, VA,
as "Pan-Pennsylvania (2)" # 2187, National Bulk Carriers, Inc.
Torpedoed by U 550, 16 April 1944, in 40.07 N - 69.24 W, voyage New York - Barry Roads,
gasoline, aircraft on deck, bombed and sunk 18 April by U.S. aircraft.
( See photo below )
The Miramar Ship Index for "PAN-PENNSYLVANIA"
IDNo:
|
2244054
|
Year:
|
1943
|
Name:
|
PAN-PENNSYLVANIA
|
Launch Date:
|
|
Type:
|
Tanker
|
Date of completion:
|
11.1943
|
Flag:
|
USA
|
Keel:
|
|
DWT:
|
18320
|
Yard No:
|
13
|
Length overall:
|
157.3
|
Ship Design:
|
T3-S-BF1
|
LPP:
|
152.4
|
Country of build:
|
USA
|
Beam:
|
21.3
|
Builder:
|
Welding SY
|
Material of build:
|
|
Location of yard:
|
Norfolk, Va
|
Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn):
|
1ST-
|
|
|
Owner as Completed:
|
National Bulk Carriers Inc, Wilmington, Del.
|
Subsequent History:
-
Disposal Data:
Torpedoed 40.07N / 69.24 W 16.04.1944 (25 dead),
sank 40.23.20 N / 69.36.30 W
History :
ON
|
LR/IMO
|
ID
|
Year
|
Name
|
Tons
|
Name change
|
Main Owner
|
244054
|
|
2244054
|
1943
|
PAN-PENNSYLVANIA
|
11016
|
-
|
D.K. Ludwig
|
"Pan-Pennsylvania".
Additional information from Uboat.net :
Name: Pan-Pennsylvania
Type: Turbine tanker
Tonnage: 11.017 tons
Completed: 1943 - Welding Shipyards Inc, Norfolk VA
Owner: National Bulk Carriers Inc, New York
Homeport: Wilmington
Date of attack: 16 Apr, 1944
Nationality: American
Fate: Sunk by U-550 (Klaus Hänert)
Position: 40.07N, 69.24W - Grid CA 6231
- See location on a map -
Complement: 81 (25 dead and 56 survivors).
Convoy: CU-21
Route: New York (15 Apr) - Barry, Wales
Cargo: 140.000 barrels of 80 octane gasoline and aircraft as deck cargo
History: Completed in November 1943
Notes on loss: At 14.05 hours on 16 Apr, 1944, the Pan Pennsylvania (Master Delmar Melum Leidy) in
station #72 of convoy CU-21 was hit by one torpedo from U-550 about 200 miles east of New York. The
torpedo struck on port side in the #8 tank, causing an explosion that blew a large hole in the side, ruptur-
ed the #7 tank and disabled the steering gear. The tanker soon went down by the stern and listed to port
about 30°. The master was not able to reach the engine room to order the engines stopped, while some
of the nine officers, 41 crewmen and 31 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 5in, one 3in and
eight 20mm guns) on board panicked and tried to launch two lifeboats while the ship was still making head-
way. The master halted those at one boat, but the other was launched and capsized, throwing the
occupants into the sea. After ascertaining the damage the tanker was finally stopped at 14.20 hours
and the remaining men abandoned ship in the last two usable lifeboats and three rafts.
In the meantime, the USS Gandy (DE 764), USS Joyce (DE 317) and USS Peterson (DE 152) had
brought U-550 to the surface in the couter-attack and sank her. The latter two then picked up the survivors
of the tanker about two hours after the attack and landed them in Londonderry on 26 April. Two officers,
13 crewmen and ten armed guards were lost, the most of them when the lifeboat capsized but three
were crushed when they attempted to launch a lifeboat on the weather side and some drowned after
jumping overboard.
The Pan Pennsylvania later capsized and was bombed and sunk by Allied aircraft two days
later at 40°24N/69°37W.