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ESSO International Tankers 1930-1939
Persephone - (1935-1942)
See also :  SUNK NEAR BARNEGAT  & The loss of the "Persephone"

"Persephone" in German service from 1925 till 1975.

In Greek mythology, Persephone, the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Demeter, was abducted by Hades, the god of the underworld. Eventually, an agreement was reached wherein Persephone would spend part of the year with Hades in the underworld, and the rest with her parents in Olympus, resulting in the seasons: when she is away, her grieving mother, the earth goddess, ignores her duties and the earth becomes barren - winter.

 
MS "Persephone" before the days of World War II.

Additional Info by Starke & Schell Registers :

PERSEPHONE - 1925   DZ      2M (aft)     (11)
8,956 GRT for Baltisch-Amerik. Petroleum G.m.b.H., Danzig      468.7 x 63.2
Tanker build by Frd. Krupp A.G., Kiel     (5)     #470
1935 - Panama Transport Co., Panama       PA
Torp. and sunk by U 593, 25 May 1942, in 39.44N-73.53W, voyage Aruba - New York, crude oil.

Sisterships are "Motocarline", "Den Haag", "Rotterdam" and "Ontariolite".

The Miramar Ship Index for "PERSEPHONE"
IDNo:
5606404
Year:
1925
Name:
PERSEPHONE
Keel:
Type:
Tanker
Launch Date:
Flag:
DZG
Date of completion:
05.1925

Tons:
8956
Link:
-
DWT:
12875
Yard No:
470
Length overall:
Ship Design:
LPP:
142.9
Country of build:
DEU
Beam:
19.3
Builder:
Krupp Germania
Material of build:
Location of yard:
Kiel
Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn):
2D-11

Subsequent History:
-

Disposal Data:
Torpedoed and sunk 39.44 N / 73.53 W on 25.05.1942.

History :
ON
LR/IMO
ID
Year
Name
Tons
Change
Registered Owner
5606404
1925
PERSEPHONE
8956
-
Baltisch-Amerikan

Additional information from Uboat.net :

Name: Persephone
Type: Motor tanker
Tonnage: 8.426 tons
Completed: 1925 - Friedrich Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel
Owner:  Panama Transport Co, Panama
Homeport: Panama
Date of attack: 25 May, 1942
Nationality: Panaman
 Fate: A total loss by U-593 (Gerd Kelbling)
Position: 39.44N, 73.53W - Grid CA 5165
- See location on a map -
Complement: 37 (9 dead and 28 survivors).
Convoy: -
Route: -
Cargo: 80.000 barrels of crude oil
History: -   
Notes on loss:
At 20.53 hours on 25 May, 1942, the Persephone sailing in an unknown convoy was torpedoed by U-593 off Barnegat Light and sank
later in only eight fathoms of water in 46°15N/74°02W after breaking in two. The bow section was salvaged and towed to New York,
where 21.000 barrels of oil were saved by barges. Her midship house was even removed intact and placed on the tanker Livingston Roe.
The stern section was later blown up by the US Coast Guard after passing ships collided with it more than once.