Topa Topa
American Steam merchant
Name | Topa Topa | ||
Type: | Steam merchant | ||
Tonnage | 5,356 tons | ||
Completed | 1920 - Los Angeles Shipbuilding & Drydock Corp, San Pedro CA | ||
Owner | Waterman Steamship Co, Mobile AL | ||
Homeport | Mobile | ||
Date of attack | 29 Aug 1942 | Nationality: American | |
Fate | Sunk by U-66 (Friedrich Markworth) | ||
Position | 10° 16'N, 51° 30'W - Grid EO 3323 | ||
Complement | 60 (25 dead and 35 survivors). | ||
Convoy | |||
Route | New York - Philadelphia - Trinidad - Takoradi - Lagos | ||
Cargo | 6500 tons of general cargo, including cars, aircraft and 800 tons of gasoline | ||
History | Completed in August 1920 | ||
Notes on event | At 02.37 hours on 29 August 1942 the unescorted Topa Topa (Master Clarence Edward McCoy) was hit on the starboard side by two torpedoes from U-66 about 350 miles north of Cayenne, French Guiana. The vessel had been spotted at 17.23 hours the day before and her zigzag course at 12 knots prevented a first attack, but due to a rain squall they stopped zigzagging. The first torpedo struck at the #2 hatch and blew off the side of the bridge, while the second hit the #5 hatch. The cargo of gasoline drums caught fire, forcing the eight officers, 34 crewmen, 15 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 5in, one 3in, four .50cal and two .30cal guns) and three Canadian passengers to abandon ship in three lifeboats. The burning ship sank at 04.02 hours. The master, two officers, 15 crewmen and seven armed guards were lost. The chief officer was taken aboard by the U-boat, questioned and then returned to the lifeboat. The survivors were picked up the next day by the British steam merchant Clan Macinnes and landed at Port of Spain, Trinidad on 9 September. | ||
On board | We have details of 26 people who were on board. |
If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.