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C. O. Stillman - (1937-1942)
"C.O. Stillman", just before her launch.
"C.O. Stillman", just before her launch.
"C.O. Stillman" in dry-dock.
The "C.O. Stillman" sunk by enemy action, after nearly three years of war service."C.O. Stillman" was the largest oil tanker in the world and carried nearly seven million gallons of oil.
Torpedoed in the Caribbean Sea on February 28, 1945.
No sisterships.
Tanker was named after ;
James Stillman (1850-1918)
James Stillman was a banker and financier who formed partnerships with many industrialists, most notably William Rockefeller
of Standard Oil. The financial institution he left at his death was the foremost commercial bank in the country.
Merchant ship "C.O. Stillman" with smaller ship "Imperial" owned by Imperial Oil Company, in the foreground.
"C.O. Stillman", outbound, November 2nd, 1941.(Photo US Coast Guard)
"C.O. Stillman", anchored, September 23rd, 1941.(Photo US Coast Guard)
| MS C.O. STILLMAN Home Port: Panama, R.P.
Company: Panama Transport Co. (Standard Oil of N.J.)
Master: Daniel H. Larsen
Built: Vegesack, Germany 1928
Gross Tons: 13,006
Cargo Capacity: 163,145
Dimensions: 584' x 75' x 44'
The Panamanian flag tanker, MS C.O. STILLMAN, was torpedoed by the German U-68 (Karl-Friedrich Mertens) at 21.15 ship time on June 5, 1942 while en route alone, from Aruba to New York with a cargo of 125,812 barrels of Fuel Oil and 39 tons of dry cargo, in position 17-30 N./68-20 W. or about 60 miles SW of Puerto Rico.
On board was a merchant crew of 47, 8 U.S. Naval Armed Guard, and 3 Workaways from other tankers. Three (3) crew members were lost.
The first torpedo struck on the starboard side abaft the midship house setting the after end of the house on fire. The Master ordered the ship stopped and for the men to abandon ship. About 21.35 EWT another torpedo hit the ship on the starboard side forward of the engine room showering the deck with fuel oil and debris. At that time those remain-ing aboard jumped over the side and climbed aboard rafts. The ship sunk 2 minutes after the 2nd torpedo hit.
The ship was abandoned in #3 and #4 lifeboats and 4 rafts. There were 25 survivors on the 4 rafts consisting of 22 crew and 3 Navy gunners. They were rescued by Coast Guard Patrol Boat #83310 on June 7th just before dark after being notified by an Army plane which had spotted the rafts. They were landed at Ponce, P.R. at 05.00 on June 8, 1942 and repatriated on the SS SEMINOLE.
Those in the two boats drifted until the dawn of June 6 and then set sail for the Dominican Republic. Boat #3 with 17 survivors landed at the Bay of Yuma. Boat #4 with 13 survivors landed at La Romana.
The U-68 (Lauzemis) was sunk on April 10, 1944 north of Madeira 33-25 N./18-59 W.) by aircraft from the USS GUADALCANAL (CVE-60). There was only one survivor rescued by the U.S. Navy. 56 were lost.
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Additional Info by Starke & Schell Registers :
C.O. STILLMAN - 1928 BR 2M (aft) (10)
16,436 GRT for International Petroleum Co., Ltd., London 565.7 x 75.6
Tanker built by Bremer Vulkan, Vegesack, (2), #646, 160498
1937 - Panama Transport Co., Panama, PA
Torp. and sunk by U 68, on 6 June 1942, in 17.33 N - 67.55 W, voyage Aruba - New York.
The Miramar Ship Index for "C.O. STILLMAN"
IDNo:
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1160498
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Year:
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1928
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Name:
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C.O. STILLMAN
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Keel:
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Type:
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Tanker
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Launch Date:
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Flag:
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GBR
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Date of completion:
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02.1928
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Ton:
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16436
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Link:
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-
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DWT:
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21350
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Yard No:
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646
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Length overall:
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Ship Design:
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LPP:
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172.4
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Country of build:
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Germany
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Beam:
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23.0
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Builder:
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Bremer Vulkan
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Material of build:
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Location of yard:
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Vegesack
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Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn):
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2D-10
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Subsequent History:
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Disposal Data:
Topedoed and sunk 17.33 N / 67.55 W, 06.06.1942 (30 Dead)
ON
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LR/IMO
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ID
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Year
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Name
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Tons
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Change
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Main Owner
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160498
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1160498
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1928
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C.O. STILLMAN
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16436
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Intnl. Petroleum Co.
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160498
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1160498
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1928
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C.O. STILLMAN
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16436
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1937
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Panama Transport Co.
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Additional information from Uboat.net :
Name: C.O. Stillman
Type: Motor tanker
Tonnage: 13.006 tons
Completed: 1928 - Bremer Vulkan, Vegesack
Owner: Panama Transport Co (Standard Oil Co), Panama
Homeport: Panama
Date of attack: 6 Jun, 1942
Nationality: Panaman
Fate: Sunk by U-68 (Karl-Friedrich Merten)
Position: 17.33N, 67.55W - Grid ED 1484
- See location on a map -
Complement: 58 (3 dead and 55 survivors).
Convoy: -
Route: Aruba - New York
Cargo: 125.812 barrels fuel oil and 39 tons dry cargo
History: -
Notes on loss:
At 03.07 hours on 6 Jun, 1942, the unescorted C.O. Stillman (Master Daniel H. Larsen) was struck by one torpedo from U-68 on the
starboard side abaft the midship house setting the after end of the house on fire. The engines were secured and the most of the 47
crewmen, eight armed guards and three workaways from other tankers aboard abandoned ship in two lifeboats and four rafts. 20
minutes later another torpedo hit the ship on the starboard side forward of the engine room, showering the deck with fuel oil and
debris. The remaining men aboard jumped overboard and swam to the rafts, while the tanker sank within two minutes 60 miles
southwest of Puerto Rico. Three crew members were lost.
Just before dark on 7 June, the 22 crewmen and three armed guards on the four rafts were picked up by the US Coast Guard patrol
boat #83310 after she was notified by an Army aircraft, which had spotted the rafts. On 8 June, they were landed at Ponce, Puerto
Rico and were repatriated on the American steam passenger ship Seminole. The two lifeboats drifted until the dawn on 6 June and
then set sail for the Dominican Republic. One boat with 17 survivors landed at the Bay of Yuma and the other with 13 survivors at
La Romana.