Renamed Stephanitor in 1955.
The motor ship Pennsylvania Sun, a 11,394 gross ton tanker, was built in 1938 at Chester, Pennsylvania, for the Sun Oil Company. On 15 July 1942, while in the Gulf of Mexico en route from Port Arthur, Texas, to Belfast, Northern Ireland, she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-571. Pennsylvania Sun was set afire and abandoned by her crew, two members of which were killed in the incident. The rest of the 40 merchant marine crew and the 17 members of the Naval Armed Guard survived after being rescued by USS Dahlgren (DD-187). However, she was salvaged on the following day, with assistance from USS Willett (ARS-12). She was subsequently repaired and returned to service.
Pennsylvania Sun remained in Sun Oil's employ until 1955, when she was sold to German owners and renamed Stephanitor. She was converted to an ore carrier in 1960 and continued in use until the mid-1960s.
The Carpenter and a Sailor from the salvage ship USS Willett (ARS-12) use "Foamite" to fight oil fires on the Pennsylvania Sun, during salvage efforts on 16 July 1942. She had been torpedoed by the German Submarine U-571 about 125 miles west of Key West, Florida, on the previous day.
Taken by a Naval Air Station, Key West, photographer.
