Ships hit by U-boats


Henry R. Mallory

American Troop transport



USS Henry R. Mallory arrives in New York with troops from France in 1919. US Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH99071

NameHenry R. Mallory
Type:Troop transport
Tonnage6,063 tons
Completed1916 - Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co, Newport News VA 
OwnerClyde-Mallory Lines (Agwilines Inc), New York 
HomeportNew York 
Date of attack7 Feb 1943Nationality:      American
 
FateSunk by U-402 (Siegfried Freiherr von Forstner)
Position55° 18'N, 26° 29'W - Grid AL 4441
Complement494 (272 dead and 222 survivors).
ConvoySC-118
RouteNew York - Halifax - Reykjavik 
CargoTrucks, tanks, clothing, food, cigarettes and 610 bags of mail 
History Completed in October 1916 as passenger ship for Mallory SS Co Inc, New York. On 24 May 1917, acquired by the US Army and converted to the troop transport USAT Henry R. Mallory. On 13 Apr 1918, transferred to the US Navy, commissioned as USS Henry R. Mallory (ID # 1280) and used to carry troops to Europe. On 30 Aug 1919, returned to owner and reconverted to a passenger ship. In July 1942, the Henry R. Mallory was again requisitioned by the US Army and converted to a troop transport. 
Notes on event

At 06.59 hours on 7 Feb 1943 the Henry R. Mallory (Master Horace Rudolph Weaver) in station #33 of convoy SC-118 was torpedoed by U-402 about 600 miles south-southwest of Iceland. One torpedo struck on the starboard side at the #3 hold. The explosion damaged the main steam line, destroyed the oil pump and engine room gauges and blew off the #4 hatch covers. The stern settled quickly and gradually began to list to port until it sank 30 minutes after the hit. The ship had ten lifeboats for the nine officers, 68 crewmen, 34 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, two 3in and eight 20mm guns) and 383 passengers (136 US Army, 72 US Marine Corps, 173 US Navy and 2 civilians). Two of them were destroyed by the explosion, a third could not be launched and two more on either side capsized in the rough seas. Only three boats with 175 men cleared the ship, many others jumped into the water and tried to reach the rafts.

None of the other ships in convoy knew that the troop transport had been hit. USS Schenck (DD 159) searched for survivors from the Toward and saw lights in the distance. The skipper requested permission to investigate the lights, but it was denied. The survivors were found four hours after the sinking by USCGC Bibb (WPG 31), it was only then that it was discovered the Henry R. Mallory had been hit. The cutter rescued 205 survivors of which three later died and USCGC Ingham (WPG 35) picked up 22 additional survivors, but two of them died later. The master, 48 crew members, 15 armed guards and 208 passengers were lost.

 
On boardWe have details of 169 people who were on board


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