Gulfpenn
American Steam tanker
Name | Gulfpenn | ||
Type: | Steam tanker | ||
Tonnage | 8,862 tons | ||
Completed | 1921 - Sun Shipbuilding Co, Chester PA | ||
Owner | Gulf Oil Co, New York | ||
Homeport | Philadelphia | ||
Date of attack | 13 May 1942 | Nationality: American | |
Fate | Sunk by U-506 (Erich Würdemann) | ||
Position | 28° 29'N, 89° 12'W - Grid DA 9536 | ||
Complement | 38 (13 dead and 25 survivors). | ||
Convoy | |||
Route | Port Arthur, Texas - Philadelphia | ||
Cargo | 104.181 barrels of fuel oil | ||
History | Completed in August 1921 as Agwihavre for Atlantic Gulf & West Indies SS Lines (Agwilines), New York. 1929 renamed Gulfpenn for Gulf Oil Co, New York. | ||
Notes on event | At 12.30 hours on 13 May 1943 the unescorted and unarmed Gulfpenn (Master Arthur S. Hodges) was steaming five miles ahead of the Gulfprince, when the other tanker was attacked by U-507 (Schacht). The Gulfpenn immediately left the scene on full speed and later steered zigzagging course in irregular patterns at 12.5 knots. At 21.38 hours on the same day, U-506 fired one torpedo, which struck the Gulfpenn aft in the engine room on the starboard side, killing all men on watch below and immediately stopping the engines. 26 men from the eight officers and 30 crew men abandoned ship in two lifeboats. One crewman later died of wounds. One officer and 11 crewmen died in the explosion or went down with the tanker, two of these died trying to retrieve personal papers. | ||
On board | We have details of 14 people who were on board. |
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