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Esso Manhattan - (1942-1959)
See also : PACIFIC OCEAN LIFELINE & See also : Convoy-Routes Esso Manhattan in WW2
"Esso Manhattan", ex. "Princeton", during War time, July 12th, 1943.( Photo US Coast Guard )
"Esso Manhattan", ex. "Princeton", during War time off Brisbane in 1943.
"Esso Manhattan", ex. "Princeton" built by Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Chester, Pa.Seen here loading at Corpus Christi, September 19th, 1953.
( Esso photo )
"Esso Manhattan", ex "Princeton".
"Esso Manhattan", ex "Princeton", May 1949 View of deck scene looking forward, waves crashing over ship's bow,rough sea off Grand Banks; Photo is a copy of negative loaned by Bertram Christensen.
"Esso Manhattan" (ex "Princeton"), 29 march 1943, broken, in New York harbour, repaired.
Construction on top is to take cargo such as MTB´s (Motor Torpedo Boats).
"Esso Manhattan".
"Esso Manhattan" (ex "Princeton"), in Drydock.
"Esso Manhattan" (ex "Princeton"), in Drydock.
"Esso Manhattan" (ex "Princeton"), in Drydock, the two parts welded together.
"Esso Manhattan" (ex "Princeton"), after repairs.
"Esso Manhattan" (ex "Princeton"), again in service.
"Esso Manhattan", ex. "Princeton", during War time off Brisbane in 1943.
Miraculously, the submarine succeeded in clearing the tanker´s bows by a few feet. No one could say whether the
sub was friendly or hostile. It was not sighted again. Drawing by W. Spencer Wright illustrates one of the many
thrilling occasions during the South Pacific war service of the "Esso Manhattan".
The Miramar Ship Index for "PRINCETON / ESSO MANHATTAN"
IDNo:
|
5226879
|
Year:
|
1942
|
Name:
|
ESSO MANHATTAN
|
Keel:
|
|
Type:
|
Tanker
|
Launch Date:
|
31.07.1942
|
Flag:
|
USA
|
Date of completion:
|
08.1942
|
Tons:
|
10172
|
Link:
|
-
|
DWT:
|
16613
|
Yard No:
|
267
|
Length overall:
|
159.6
|
Ship Design:
|
T2-SE-A1
|
LPP:
|
153.3
|
Country of build:
|
USA
|
Beam:
|
20.7
|
Builder:
|
Sun
|
Material of build:
|
|
Location of yard:
|
Chester, Pa
|
Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn):
|
1TE-15
|
|
|
Subsequent History:
[ Launched as PRINCETON ] -
[ 1959 converted to bulk carrier, 9870 grt / 14726 dwt ] - 1959 MARTHA MAC -
1965 MARINE PROGRESS - 1966 MARINE ENTERPRISE -
1970 ENTERPRISE
Disposal Data:
Crapped at Hualien 27.06.1974 [ by Chou's Iron & Steel Co Ltd. ]
History:
ON
|
LR/IMO
|
ID
|
Year
|
Name
|
Tons
|
Change
|
Registered Owner
|
242157
|
|
5226879
|
1942
|
PRINCETON
|
10172
|
|
U.S. Govt.
|
242157
|
|
5226879
|
1942
|
ESSO MANHATTAN
|
10172
|
1942L
|
Standard Oil Co (New Jersey)
|
242157
|
|
5226879
|
1942
|
ESSO MANHATTAN
|
10172
|
1950
|
Esso Sg Co.
|
242157
|
5226879
|
5226879
|
1942
|
MARTHA MAC
|
9870
|
1959
|
Gulfcoast Transit Co.
|
242157
|
5226879
|
5226879
|
1942
|
MARINE PROGRESS
|
9870
|
1965
|
Marine Nav Co Inc.
|
242157
|
5226879
|
5226879
|
1942
|
MARINE ENTERPRISE
|
9870
|
1966
|
Marine Nav Co Inc.
|
|
5226879
|
5226879
|
1942
|
ENTERPRISE
|
9870
|
1970
|
Marine Nav Co Inc.
|
T2-SE-A1
ESSO MANHATTAN - 1942 USA 1TE (aft)
10,172 GRT for Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey, Wilmington, Del. 504.0 x 68.2
Tanker build by Sun SB. & DD. Co., Chester, Pa. (8/42) #267 242157
Launched as PRINCETON
(Broke in two 29 March 1943, off New York, both sections towed in, rejoined and returned to service June 1943)
1950 - Esso Shipping Company, Wilmington, Del.
1959 - MARTHA MAC Gulfcoast Transit Co., Tampa, converted to bulk carrier by Gibbs Corp., Jacksonville, Fla., 9,870 grt
1965 - MARINE PROGRESS, Marine Navigation Co., Inc., Wilmington, Del. [Marine Transport Lines, Inc., New York]
1966 - MARINE ENTERPRISE, s/o
1970 - ENTERPRISE, s/o, Panama, PA
Broken up at Hualien 1974 by Chou's Iron & Steel Co., Ltd., sld. Ulsan 08.05.1974 for Kaohsiung,
work began 27.06.1974
Sisterships are "Esso Gettysburg", "Esso Washington", "Esso Wilmington", "Esso Norfolk" and "Esso Paterson".
Mr. Milton Bell, wrote me about the "Esso Manhattan", the following ;
Launched 1942 by Sun Shipbuilding Co, Chester, Pa as the T-2 tanker PRINCETON but completed as the ESSO MANHATTAN.
She highlighted the problem of the construction of these ships when on 29th Mar.1943 she left New York in fine weather and a slight sea,
and suddenly broke in half. It was originally thought that she had struck a mine, but after the two halves were towed to port, it was found
that the damage was not caused by explosion. She was later repaired and sailed again on 11th June ( I imagine that it was not easy to
find a crew! ).
After completing her service as a tanker in 1959, she was converted to a self unloading bulker, by Gibbs Corp, Jacksonville, Fla, and
was equipped with two 30-ton cranes. The bridge housing was moved aft just ahead of the funnel and she was renamed MARTHA
MAC and operated by Gulfcoast Transit Company of Tampa, Fl in the phosphat-coal trade between Florida and Louisiana.
1965 MARINE PROGRESS, Marine Nav. Co, USA,
1966 MARINE ENTERPRISE, same owner,
1970 transferred to Panamanian registry renamed ENTERPRISE.
1974 scrapped at Kaohsiung.
"Martha Mac", ex. "Esso Manhattan" (ex "Princeton"), after conversion, seen here at Myrtle Grove, Louisiana,
around 1965 while loading coal for Tampa.
( Photo thanks to Milton Bell )
Another photo of the "Martha Mac", ex. "Esso Manhattan" (ex "Princeton"), after conversion.