Ships hit by U-boats


Major General Henry Gibbins

American Steam merchant


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NameMajor General Henry Gibbins
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage5,766 tons
Completed1918 - Skinner & Eddy Corp, Seattle WA 
OwnerUS Army Transport Service 
HomeportWashington 
Date of attack23 Jun 1942Nationality:      American
 
FateSunk by U-158 (Erwin Rostin)
Position24° 35'N, 87° 45'W - Grid DL 2918
Complement68 (0 dead and 68 survivors).
Convoy
RouteBuenaventura, Colombia - Panama Canal - New Orleans 
Cargo5235 tons of coffee 
History Built as West Elcasco for US Maritime Commission, Washington DC
1940/41 requisitioned by the US Army Transport Service and renamed Major General Henry Gibbins 
Notes on event

At 08.40 hours on 23 June 1942 the unescorted Major General Henry Gibbins (Master Peter A. Kalleberg) was torpedoed and sunk by U-158 about 375 miles west of Key West, Florida. The torpedo struck the port side at #2 hold, causing the ship to take a sharp port list. 20 minutes later, a second torpedo struck amidships between #3 hold and the engine room, causing the ship to sink shortly after the hit. The 47 crew members and 21 US Army armed guards abandoned ship after the first hit in three lifeboats.
A flying boat directed the schooner Dolphin to two of the lifeboats. The survivors in these boats were picked up and flown to Pensacola, Florida on 26 June. The survivors in the third boat were picked up the next day and also taken to Pensacola.

 
On boardWe have details of 1 people who were on board


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