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J. A. Mowinckel - (1935-1950)
See also : TORPEDOED, MINED, BEACHED
The diesel driven tanker "J. A. Mowinckel", survivor of a series of war "incidents".
"J. A. Mowinckel",
"J. A. Mowinckel".
"J. A. Mowinckel".
"J. A. Mowinckel", inbound, July 8th, 1942.( Photo US Coast Guard )
"J. A. Mowinckel", outbound, August 15th, 1943.( Photo US Coast Guard )
| MS J.A. MOWINCKEL Home Port: Panama City, R.P.
Company: Panama Transport Co. (Standard Oil of N.J.)
Master: Harold Griffiths
Built: Monfalcone, Italy 1930
Gross Tons: 11,147
Dimensions: 540' x 70' x 39
Cargo Capacity: 139,765 barrels
The Panamanian flag tanker, MS J.A. MOWINCKEL, was torpedoed by the German U-576 (Hans-Dieter Heinicke) at 1625 EWTon July 15, 1942 while en route from New York to Aruba in Convoy KS-520 no oil aboard but carrying a small quantity of dry cargo. The tanks were loaded with 6000 tons of fresh water. Soon after the attack, the Master of the ship headed toward shore in order to reach Hatteras Inlet or some other safe place to anchor. In the process of doing this the ship entered a U.S. mine field. About 1955, a mine exploded on the starboard side at #2 tank. There is doubt whether it was a mine or torpedo. The ship did not sink but was later repaired and put back into service.
On board was a merchant crew of 46 men and 13 U.S. Naval Armed Guard. One crew member died of wounds, received in the explosion of the torpedo. One U.S. Navy gunner died of his wounds, received in the explosion of the torpedo, at the Marine Hospital in Norfolk on July 21st. Ten crew members and 4 Navy men were injured by the first explosion but survived.
Four torpedoes had been fired by the U-576. The first hit the SS CHILORE, the 2nd hit the MOWINCKEL, the 3rd sunk the BLUEFIELDS, and the 4th passed astern of the MOWINCKEL.
At about 1625 EWT, the MOWINCKEL was struck in the stern but did not sink. The torpedo hit about 8 feet below the waterline in the after part of the ship, blowing a hole in the hull through the after peak and steering engine room. The steering gear was wrecked along with the galley, messrooms, and after gun platform. The after bulkhead in the engine room was ruptured allowing the engine room to take on water.
After the MOWINCKEL struck the mine the Master dropped the anchor and ordered the ship abandoned in the fear that the ship would be attacked again. The ship was abandoned at 2005 in four boats. Boats #1 S #3 landed at Ocracoke Inlet on July 16th at 0430. The other two were towed by a Coast Guard boat to Ocracoke Inlet.
The MOWINCKEL was towed by the tug J.P. MARTIN to Hatteras Inlet at 0300 on July 20th. The ship was beached and pumped out and floated on July 21st. At 0300 on the 22nd, the ship struck another mine at #7 tank which filled with water. After pumping out that tank the ship was ready for towing on July 23rd. She was taken in tow by the tug RELIEF and U.S. Navy tug USS SCOTIA. Escorted by 2 Corvettes, the tow arrived at Hampton Roads on July 25th, then to Baltimore for temporary repairs. Left Baltimore, in tow, on September 6th arriving New York on September 10th. Repairs were completed on March 12, 1943, sailing the next day for Aruba.
|
Arial shot of the torpedoed and grounded "J. A. Mowinckel", with the tug
"J.P. Martin" on her Starboard side.
Single The Miramar Ship Index for "J.A. MOWINCKEL"
IDNo:
|
5607116
|
Year:
|
1930
|
Name:
|
J.A.MOWINCKEL
|
Keel:
|
|
Type:
|
Tanker
|
Launch Date:
|
27.07.1930
|
Flag:
|
DZG
|
Date of completion:
|
11.1930
|
DWT:
|
12323
|
Yard No:
|
236
|
Length overall:
|
|
Ship Design:
|
|
LPP:
|
159.0
|
Country of build:
|
ITA
|
Beam:
|
21.5
|
Builder:
|
Riuniti Adriatico
|
Material of build:
|
|
Location of yard:
|
Monfalcone
|
Number ofscrews/Mchy/Speed(kn):
|
2D-12.5
|
|
|
Subsequent History:
1950 ORIONIS - 1951 SEACASTLE - 1951 AUDACIOUS - 1953 PLATANOS.
Disposal Data:
Scrapped at Blyth 23.04.1954.
History:
ON
|
ID
|
Built
|
Name
|
Tons
|
Change
|
Main Owner
|
|
5607116
|
1930
|
J.A. MOWINCKEL
|
12323
|
|
Baltisch-Am.Petrol
|
|
5607116
|
1930
|
ORIONIS
|
12323
|
1950
|
Orion Sg & Tdg Co
|
|
5607116
|
1930
|
AUDACIOUS
|
12323
|
1951
|
Orion Sg & Tdg Co
|
|
5607116
|
1930
|
SEACASTLE
|
12323
|
1951
|
Orion Sg & Tdg Co
|
|
5607116
|
1930
|
PLATANOS
|
12323
|
1953
|
Orion Sg & Tdg Co
|
Sisterships are F. H. Bedford Jr., Peter Hurll, Heinrich v. Riedemann and J. H. Senior.
Additional Info by Starke & Schell Registers :
J. A. MOWINCKEL - 1930 DZ 2M (aft) (12½)
12,323 GRT for Baltisch-Amerik. Petroleum Import G.m.b.H. (Waried Tankschiff Rhed.), Danzig 521.8 x 70.4
Tanker build by Cant. Riuniti dell'Adriatico, Monfalcone (11) #236
1935 - Panama Transport Co., Panama PA
1950 - ORIONIS Soc. Nacional del Mar, S.A., Panama [Orion Sg. & Tg. Co., Inc., New York]
1951 - SEACASTLE s/o
1951 - AUDACIOUS s/o
1953 - PLATANOS Puerto Miramar Cia. de Navegacion, S.A., Panama [do.]
Broken up at Blyth 1954 by Hughes Bolckow Shipbreaking Co., Ltd., arr. 23.4.54
MS J.A. MOWINCKEL
Home Port: Panama City, R.P.
Company: Panama Transport Co. (Standard Oil of N.J.)
Master: Harold Griffiths
Built: Monfalcone, Italy 1930
Gross Tons: 11,147
Dimensions: 540' x 70' x 39
Cargo Capacity: 139,765 barrels
The Panamanian flag tanker, MS J.A. MOWINCKEL, was torpedoed by the German U-576 (Hans-Dieter Heinicke) at 1625 EWT
on July 15, 1942 while en route from New York to Aruba in Convoy KS-520 no oil aboard but carrying a small quantity of dry cargo.
The tanks were loaded with 6000 tons of fresh water. Soon after the attack, the Master of the ship headed toward shore in order
to reach Hatteras Inlet or some other safe place to anchor. In the process of doing this the ship entered a U.S. mine field. About
1955, a mine exploded on the starboard side at # 2 tank. There is doubt whether it was a mine or torpedo. The ship did not sink
but was later repaired and put back into service.
On board was a merchant crew of 46 men and 13 U.S.Naval Armed Guard. One crew member died of wounds,received in the ex-
plosion of the torpedo. One U.S. Navy gunner died of his wounds, received in the explosion of the torpedo, at the Marine Hospital
in Norfolk on July 21st. Ten crew members and 4 Navy men were injured by the first explosion but survived.
Four torpedoes had been fired by the U-576. The first hit the SS CHILORE, the 2nd hit the MOWINCKEL, the 3rd sunk the
BLUEFIELDS, and the 4th passed astern of the MOWINCKEL.
At about 1625 EWT, the MOWINCKEL was struck in the stern but did not sink. The torpedo hit about 8 feet below the waterline
in the after part of the ship, blowing a hole in the hull through the after peak and steering engine room. The steering gear was
wrecked along with the galley, messrooms, and after gun platform. The after bulkhead in the engine room was ruptured
allowing the engine room to take on water.
After the MOWINCKEL struck the mine the Master dropped the anchor and ordered the ship abandoned in the fear that the
ship would be attacked again. The ship was abandoned at 2005 in four boats. Boats # 1& # 3 landed at Ocracoke Inlet on July
16th at 0430. The other two were towed by a Coast Guard boat to Ocracoke Inlet.
The MOWINCKEL was towed by the tug J.P. MARTIN to Hatteras Inlet at 0300 on July 20th. The ship was beached and pumped
out and floated on July 21st. At 0300 on the 22nd, the ship struck another mine at #7 tank which filled with water. After pumping
out that tank the ship was ready for towing on July 23rd. She was taken in tow by the tug RELIEF and U.S. Navy tug USS
SCOTIA. Escorted by 2 Corvettes, the tow arrived at Hampton Roads on July 25th, then to Baltimore for temporary repairs.
Left Baltimore, in tow, on September 6th arriving New York on September 10th. Repairs were completed on March 12,
1943, sailing the next day for Aruba.