| Fate: |
Damaged by U-506 ( Erich Würdemann) |
| Position: |
28.41N, 90.19W - Grid DA 9521
|
| Complement: |
42 (0 dead and 42 survivors). |
| Convoy: |
|
| Route: |
Chester, Pennsylvania - Beaumont, Texas |
| Cargo: |
Water ballast |
| History: |
At 16.43 hours on 23 Feb, 1942, the
unescorted and unarmed Sun (Master Cornelius Van Gemert) was hit
aft of midships on the port side by one torpedo from U-502 about 54
miles north of Aruba in 13°02N/70°41W (Grid EC 9217). The tanker was en
route from Chester to Aruba in water ballast. The explosion ripped the
side and bottom almost completely out and tore out most of the inner
structure and framework. The crew of eight officers and 28 crewmen
initially abandoned ship in two lifeboats but reboarded the vessel after
an aircraft was sighted. The tanker anchored near the Venezuelan coast
until the following morning and then sailed to Aruba with air escort.
She returned to Chester after temporary repairs were made at Aruba.
|
| Notes on loss: |
At 11.01 hours on 16 May, 1942, the
unescorted Sun (Master John Peter Bakke) was hit at the port bow
by a torpedo from U-506 near Southwest Pass, Louisiana. The explosion
opened a hole of approximately 30 by 20 feet, bulged out some plates on
the opposite side and ruptured the lower deck in several places. The
tanker first stopped but soon turned away at full speed and the armed
guards manning the guns, reaching New Orleans for repairs about 14 hours
later. All eight officers, 29 crewmen and five armed guards (the ship
was armed with one 4in and four .30cal guns) survived. The U-boat did
not chase the Sun because it attacked the William C.
McTarnahan only a few minutes later. |
|
