The SS Acme was a 6,878 ton Steam Tanker, that was completed in 1916 by Union Iron Works, of San Francisco CA. She was owned by Socony-Vacuum Oil Co. Inc. New York....and she was homeported out of New York as well. The Acme had left New York, just a day earlier with her Master Sigsmund Schulz, and a crew of 31, sailing alone, and unarmed in water ballast. Her destination was Corpus Christi, TX. On March 17th, 1942 approximate 23.52 hours the Acme was spotted by the German Submarine U-124, commanded by Johann Mohr about a mile west of Diamond Shoals Light Buoy, North Carolina. Commander Mohr got the Acme in his sights and let go with a torpedo, of which did hit the Acme in the stern, directly aft of the stack It was a very serious hit...the explosion destroyed the engine room and blew away the rudder and propeller. The explosion from the torpedo actually blew forward and upward in the engine room, as well as into the crews quarters which were located above the engine room. Eleven men died due to this explosion. Just prior to giving the order to abandon ship, the Master sent men aft to see if anyone was alive. The rescue crew found a fireman with both legs broken and unable to remove himself from the area. The rescue group also helped remove the 2nd Engineer. As soon as these men were brought topside the survivors abandon the ship in # 1 and #2 life boats. The survivors were picked up by the USCG Dione 1830 EWT and landed at Norfolk. The Acme settled by the stern but later was towed to Lynnhaven Roads, Virginia by Navy and Coast Guard Vessels, where she was anchored. Ballast was shifted until the stern was lifted enough to negotiate the channel into Hampton Roads. She was towed to Newport News, where she was repaired and returned to service. LOST MERCHANT CREWMAN The following 11 names are crewman that where aboard the SS Acme during this tragic event. Charry, Eli; (Ordinary Seaman) Culp, John Leonard, (Bosun) Dorman, Earl L. (Utility) Grier, Harold G. (Wiper) Llera, Gilberto (Ordinary Seaman) Monson, Carl F. (Oiler) Murff, Harold W. (Messman) Reynolds, John V. (First Engineer) Riescher, Percy E. (Fireman/Wiper) Staples, Leslie H. (Oiler) Stevenson, Edward (Cook) Well the SS Acme was repaired and went on to a useful life....On November 3rd, 1943 she as requisitioned by the U.S. Navy, renamed and classified SS Abarenda (IX-131)....and converted to a floating storage tanker. On February 26, 1944 she was purchased by the Navy and commissioned on April 18th, 1944. Assigned to Service Squadron 10 and served at Manus, Admiralty Islands until February 20th 1945. On March 13th, 1945 stationed at Leyte until VJ and dispensed fuel to the warships of the 3 and 5 fleet. Then fueled the ships supporting rd th the occupation forces in the Far East until decommission on February 26th 1946. Returned to the WSA [War Shipping Administration] reserve fleet at Subic Bay as Acme. March 3rd, 1948 sold for scrapping to the Asia Development Corp. The German Submarine U-124 was commissioned on June 11, 1940, and met her fate on April 2nd, 1943 by depth charges from the British corvette HMS Stonecrop and the British Sloop HMS Black Swan....all hands were lost. During her ‘Sub life’ the U-124 sunk 46 ships.