Ships hit by U-boats


Ohioan

American Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of William F. Hultgren

NameOhioan
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage6,078 tons
Completed1919 - G.M. Standifer Construction Corp, Vancouver WA 
OwnerAmerican-Hawaiian SS Co, New York 
HomeportNew York 
Date of attack8 May 1942Nationality:      American
 
FateSunk by U-564 (Reinhard Suhren)
Position26° 31'N, 79° 59'W - Grid DM 2316
Complement37 (15 dead and 22 survivors).
Convoy
RouteBombay - Port Elizabeth - San Juan, Puerto Rico - Baltimore, Maryland - Philadelphia 
Cargo6000 tons of manganese ore, 300 tons of wool and 1300 tons of licorice root 
History Completed in February 1920 as Pawlet for US Shipping Board (USSB). 1928 renamed Golden Wall for Oceanic & Oriental Navigation Co, San Francisco CA. 1934 renamed Willsolo for Williams SS Corp, New York. 1937 renamed Ohioan for American-Hawaiian SS Co, New York. 
Notes on event

At 18.12 hours on 8 May 1942 the unescorted and unarmed Ohioan (Master Frank H. Roberts) was hit on the starboard side aft by one G7e torpedo from U-564, while steaming on a non-evasive course at 14.5 knots about 10 miles off Boynton Beach, Florida. The torpedo struck in the #4 hold and caused the ship to sink by the stern within three minutes, rolling over from starboard to port. The U-boat did not surface to question the survivors due to an aircraft circling overhead. The eight officers and 29 crewmen tried to launch two lifeboats, but the first swamped when it touched the water while the second was cut from its falls but did not float. The suction of the sinking ship caused the majority of the casualties of one officer and 14 crewmen. The survivors rescued themselves on six rafts that had floated free and were rescued by US Coast Guard vessels. They were brought to West Palm Beach, where four had to be hospitalized.

 
On boardWe have details of 16 people who were on board


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