| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | SSPan-Pennsylvania |
| Operator | National Bulk Carriers |
| Builder | Welding Shipyards,Norfolk, Virginia |
| Yard number | 13 |
| In service | November 1943 |
| Identification | Official number: 244054[1] |
| Fate | Sunk, April 16, 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Type T3-S-BF1tanker |
| Tonnage | |
| Length | 515 ft 11 in (157.25 m) |
| Beam | 70 ft (21 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 14knots (26 km/h; 16 mph) |
| Crew | 50 + 31U.S. Navy Armed Guard |
| Armament |
|
SSPan-Pennsylvania was a TypeT3-S-BF1tanker of the United States, which was sunk byGerman U-boatU-550 in April 1944.
The ship was built at theWelding Shipyards inNorfolk, Virginia, underMaritime Commission contract #2187, and was delivered to National Bulk Carriers, Inc. in November 1943.[3] The 11,016 gross register tons (GRT) ship was 515 feet 11 inches (157.25 m) long and 70 feet (21 m) in the beam,[2] and was powered by twosteam turbines, delivering 7,700 shp (5,742 kW) to a single propeller, giving her a top speed of 14knots (26 km/h; 16 mph).[4]
Pan-Pennsylvania sailed fromNew York Harbor on the afternoon of 15 April 1944 as part of convoyCU-21, bound for England, carrying 140,000barrels of 80-octaneaviation fuel, a crew of 50 men, and 31 members of theNaval Armed Guard. The 28 merchant ships of CU-21 were accompanied by Escort Flotilla 21.5, which consisted of sixdestroyer escorts.[5]
Weather conditions were initially poor, and the convoy was not able to settle into the standard convoy formation until the next morning. However, they had already been observed by theU-550 which, under the command ofKapitanleutnant Klaus Hanert, was on her first combat patrol. At 8 a.m. SSPan-Pennsylvania was straggling behind the rest of the convoy when she was hit by a torpedo fromU-550 on her port side.[5]
AsPan-Pennsylvania began to settle, theU-550 approached her, using the stricken ship to mask their presence from the three escort destroyers —Joyce,Peterson andGandy — who rapidly approached, scanning the area with theirsonar. AboardPan-Pennsylvania a fire broke out in the engine room, and the captain ordered the crew to abandon ship, as she began to settle andlist to port. The crew launched two lifeboats and three life-rafts as water began to wash over the deck. The tanker continued to settle and then slowlycapsized.[5]
U-550, meanwhile, attempted to slip away, but was detected byJoyce, which promptly attacked with a pattern of 13depth charges, bracketing the submarine and forcing her to the surface. The three escorts opened fire on her andGandy rammed her abaft the conning tower.Peterson fired two more depth charges from her "K" guns, which exploded alongside the submarine.U-550 attempted to man herdeck gun and machine guns, but the crews were mown down by gunfire. The crew ofU-550 then set scuttling charges and attempted to abandon her, but the charges exploded prematurely and she quickly sank taking most of the crew with her. The entire action, from the detection ofU-550 to the time her sinking, lasted only thirteen minutes.[5]
Of the crew ofPan-Pennsylvania, 31 were rescued byJoyce and 25 byPeterson, leaving 25 unaccounted for. Only 12 Germans survived, including her Captain; 44 were lost.[5]
On the day following the attack an attempt was made to sink the still burning hulk ofPan-Pennsylvania with gunfire.[6] This failed, so she was bombed and sunk by aircraft the day after at position40°24′N69°37′W / 40.400°N 69.617°W /40.400; -69.617.[1]
The wreck ofU-550 was found on July 23, 2012, in deep water about 70 miles south ofNantucket, Massachusetts.[7]
Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in April 1944 | |
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| Shipwrecks |
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| Other incidents |
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