Ships hit by U-boats


L.J. Drake

American Steam tanker



NameL.J. Drake
Type:Steam tanker
Tonnage6,693 tons
Completed1918 - Ames Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co, Seattle WA 
OwnerStandard Oil Co of New Jersey, New York 
HomeportWilmington 
Date of attack5 Jun 1942Nationality:      American
 
FateSunk by U-68 (Karl-Friedrich Merten)
Position17° 30'N, 68° 20'W - Grid ED 1749
Complement41 (41 dead - no survivors)
Convoy
RouteAruba (4 Jun) - San Juan, Puerto Rico 
Cargo72,961 barrels of gasoline 
History Completed in August 1918 for US Shipping Board (USSB). 1919 sold to Standard Oil Co of New Jersey, New York. 
Notes on event

At 20.49 hours on 5 June 1942, U-68 fired a spread of three G7e torpedoes at the unescorted L.J. Drake (Master Peter Nielsen) and hit her with all three after 45 seconds. The tanker exploded in flames and afterwards nothing remained but pieces of wreckage. None of the eight officers, 27 crewmen and six armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, one 3in, two .50cal and two .30cal guns) survived.

 
On boardWe have details of 41 people who were on board


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