Panam
Panamanian Motor tanker
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| Name | Panam | ||
| Type: | Motor tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 7,277 tons | ||
| Completed | 1925 - Livingstone & Cooper Ltd, Hessle | ||
| Owner | Marine Transport Lines Inc, New York | ||
| Homeport | Panama | ||
| Date of attack | 4 May 1943 | Nationality:  Panamanian | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-129 (Hans-Ludwig Witt) | ||
| Position | 34° 11'N, 76° 12'W - Grid DC 1274 | ||
| Complement | 51 (2 dead and 49 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | NK-538 (straggler) | ||
| Route | Norfolk - Lake Charles, Louisiana | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Completed in September 1925 as British Otokia for Union SS Co of New Zealand Ltd, London. 1937 sold to Panama and renamed Panam for Cia Maritima Istmenia Ltda, Panama. On 14 Jul 1942, seized at New York by the US War Shipping Administration (WSA) and assigned to the Marine Transport Lines Inc, New York. | ||
| Notes on event | At 14.18 hours on 4 May 1943 the Panam (Master Jorgen Knudsen) was hit by one torpedo from U-129 off the coast of North Carolina. The ship had become a straggler from convoy NK-538 since 07.00 hours the same day due to engine troubles. The torpedo hit on the port side in the engine room, completely wrecking it and killing two crew members on watch below. Six minutes later a second torpedo struck on the port side amidships, wrecking the pumproom and caused the ship to sink at 14.55 hours. The remaining 35 crew members and 14 armed guards abandoned ship in three lifeboats and were picked up by USS SC-664 about 20.00 hours and landed four hours later at Morehead City, North Carolina. | ||
| On board | We have details of 51 people who were on board. | ||
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