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ESSO International Tankers 1920-1929
F. W. Abrams - (1920 -1942)
See also : LOST OFF HATTERAS
The "F. W. Abrams" was an important link in the Western Hemisphere supply line.
"F. W. Abrams" was build by New York SB. Corp., Camden, N.J., yard No. 257 as "Nora" in 1920
Keel laid Mar 15, 1920, launch Sep 25, 1920.
Oil tanker (Grace Steamship Co., Inc.), 13,000 grt, 98000 barrels.
Named for daughter of J.P. Grace.
Sold in 1932 as "F.W. Abrams" to the Standard Oil Co.
Struck a mine and sank, 1942.
Sister ships are R.G. Stewart and E.G. Seubert.
 
"F.W. Abrams", ex. "Nora".

 See also the Diving web-site about the "F.W. Abrams".
Source : Pacific Marine Review, Volume 17, November, 1920.
Grace Tanker Launched
The tanker Nora, named after Nora Grace, daughter of Joseph P. Grace, president of the William R. Grace Steamship Company, was launched at the north yard of the New York Shipbuilding Corporation September 18. The sponsor was eleven-year-old Lilias Kent, niece of President Grace.
She was the youngest sponsor ever to christen a ship at the plant and it was the first privately-owned ship launched at the plant since America entered the war. The tanker was built in fast time and was launched al-most completed.
The keel was laid March 15 and the vessel was launched in six months and ten days. She is 485 feet 2 inch-es in length and has a beam of 62 feet 8 inches and depth of 39 feet 6 inches.
The time for launching is claimed to be a record for a shelter-deck tanker.

 Oil covers the sea as the waters of Cape Hatteras swirl over the torpedoed "F. W. Abrams".
Tide rushes past the topmasts of the "F. W. Abrams" shortly before she dissappeared.

The Miramar Ship Index for "NORA"
IDNo:
2220687
Year:
1920
Name:
NORA
Keel:
Type:
Tanker
Launch Date:
25.09.1920
Flag:
USA
Date of completion:
10.1920

DWT:
14,380
Yard No:
257
Length overall:
Ship Design:
LPP:
142.5
Country of build:
USA
Beam:
19.1
Builder:
New York SB
Material of build:
Location of yard:
Camden, NJ
Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn):
1Q-10.5

Subsequent History:
1934 F.W. ABRAMS

Disposal Data:
Struck a mine and sank 34.57 N / 75.56 W on 11.06.1942.

History :
ON
LR/IMO
ID
Year
Name
Tons
Change
Registered Owner
220687
2220687
1920
NORA
9621
W.R. Grace & Co.
220687
2220687
1920
F.W. ABRAMS
9621
1934
Standard Sg Co.

Additional Info by Starke & Schell Registers :

NORA - 1920   USA  1Q (aft)   (10½)
9,621GRT for Grace Steamship Co., Inc. (W. R. Grace & Co.), New York, 467.6 x 62.7
Tanker built by New York SB. Corp., Camden, N.J., (10),  #257,   220687
1934 - F. W. ABRAMS, Standard Shipping Co., Inc., Wilmington, Del.
1935 - Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey, Wilmington, Del.
Sunk in U.S. minefield by accident, 11 June 1942, in 34.57N-75.56W (off Cape Hatteras),
voyage Aruba - New York, fuel oil.