Ships hit by U-boats


Santa Maria

American Steam merchant



NameSanta Maria
Type:Steam merchant (C-2)
Tonnage6,507 tons
Completed1942 - Federal Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co, Kearny NJ 
OwnerGrace Line Inc (W.R. Grace & Co), New York 
HomeportNew York 
Date of attack20 Jun 1943Nationality:      American
 
FateDamaged by U-214 (Rupprecht Stock)
Position14° 34'N, 17° 28'W - Grid EK 46
Complement87 (1 dead and 86 survivors).
Convoy
RouteDakar (20 Jun) - New York 
Cargo450 tons of sisal hemp 
History Completed in October 1942

Post-war:
1946 renamed Cherubim by the US War Shipping Administration. 1948 renamed Claiborne for Waterman SS Corp, Mobile AL. Broken up at Kaohsiung in May 1971. 
Notes on event

On 20 June 1943 the Santa Maria (Master Robert John Twaddell) struck a mine laid on 7 June by U-214 five miles west of Dakar. The explosion occurred in the vicinity of the #1 hatch and caused the forward magazine to explode that completely destroyed the bow forward of the bulkhead between #1 and #2 holds. Two armed guards manning the gun on the bow were blown overboard, one of them was never found and the other was rescued and hospitalized in Dakar. The most of the nine officers, 48 crewmen and 30 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 5in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns) on board abandoned ship in two lifeboats and stayed near the ship for two hours until two French Naval tugs arrived. 46 survivors were taken ashore, the rest reboarded the vessel and helped the tugs to tow the ship into the harbour of Dakar, where the ship was dry docked and repaired. On 14 December, she left for New York and arrived after a voyage of 13 days.

 
On boardWe have details of 5 people who were on board


If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.

Return to Allied Ships hit by U-boats