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Stanvac Melbourne (I) - (1941-1942)
See also : Repair of damage Stanvac Melbourne (I)
Launch of the "Stanvac Melbourne (1)", Hull no. 208, a Single screw, steam turbine,
4,000 SHP, 16,725 DWT. at Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, at Chester,
on 1941-03-29.
( Photo by A.V. Knott )
Launch of the "Stanvac Melbourne (1)", on 1941-03-29.
( Photo by A.V. Knott )
Launch of the "Stanvac Melbourne (1)", on 1941-03-29.
( Photo by A.V. Knott )
SS STANVAC MELBOURNE
Home Port: Panama City, R.P.
Company: Socony Vacuum Oil Co.
Master: Andrew T. Lagan (Lost on the SS BRILLIANT)
Built: Chester, PA 1941
Gross Tons: 10,103
Dimensions: 520' x 68' x 37'
Capacity: 138,523 barrels
The Panamanian flag tanker, SS STANVAC MELBOURNE, was torpedoed and damaged by the German U-203 (Rolf Mutzelburg) at 0030 and O113 EWTon April 12, 1942 while en route from New York to Aruba in ballast and unescorted, while in position 33-42 N./ 77-35 W. (About 15 miles from Frying Pan Shoal Inside Buoy).
On board was a complement of 40 merchant crew and 8 U.S. Naval Armed Guard. Three crew members were lost abandoning ship.
At 0030 EWT, an explosion was heard from under the after part of the ship which jarred the ship and tripped the automatic alarm. The engines were stopped and the ship was examined for damage. None was found so the ship resumed her headway at 0037 on the same course but not zigzagging. At 0113, a torpedo struck on the port side at #7 tank causing the ship to list to port and opening a hole 30' x 30' in the hull and also several small holes on the starboard side. A distress call was sent and it was answered.
At 0120, the ship was abandoned by all hands except the Master, an Oiler, and a Navy gunner. Lifeboats #1-2-4 were launched without difficulty but #3 boat had some difficulty when the securing strap fouled the hand grabs while the boat was being lowered. The boat was on its beam ends for a minute. At that time a sea lifted the boat and ripped off the grabs from the boat. The boat then righted and became waterborne and the releasing gear let go. Only one man was in this boat. Three other crew members were on rafts and then taken aboard #2 boat.
The Chief Mate, who was in charge of #2 boat, related how he observed 2 submarines on the surface after #2 boat had drifted to a point about 500 feet off the port quarter of the MELBOURNE. About 0130, one of the subs surfaced under #2 boat, completely capsizing it with all the occupants underneath. As a result of this action, two men later perished in the boat after it was righted. Both were buried at sea from the boat. This boat, (#2 boat) and its occupants, were rescued about 1320 on April 12, by the USS PC 472. They were later transferred to CG 186 which landed them at Southport, NC at 0153 on April 14th.
The 14 survivors in #4 boat were picked up by the MV WILLIAM PENN and were put ashore at Morehead City, NC.
The Master, an Oiler, and the Navy gunner in charge of the Armed Guard had remained aboard. At 0130, the Master let go the port anchor hoping the boats might be able to get back aboard. However, rough seas prevented this from happening. The three men still onboard stayed there all night.
Later on in the afternoon of April 12th, two tugs and the Armed Trawler HMS NORTHERN DUKE came alongside and assisted in the raising of the anchor and rigging the towing hawser. Towing commenced that night and continued through the next day (13th) arriving at a safe anchorage in Southport, NC that night. The next day the tow proceeded to Wilmington, NC arriving on the same day, the 14th. The crew returned aboard on the 16th. The ship was fully repaired at Charleston, SC and returned to service on July 2, 1942.
The U-203 (Hermann Kottmann) was sunk April 25, 1943 south of Greenland in position 55-05 N./42-25 W. by HMS PATHFINDER (G-10) and aircraft from HMS BITER. Eleven were lost and 38 taken prisoner.
U.S. MERCHANT CREW LOST
BAYA, Salah - A.B. - Disappeared after abandoning ship
PARKS, Robert - Steward - Died in #2 boat
REVOLI, Paul - A.B. - Died in #2 boat
Second Attack
The Panamanian flag tanker, SS STANVAC MELBOURNE, was torpedoed and sunk by the German U-515 (Werner Henke) at 0405 ship's time on Septmber 12, 1942, while en route from Para, Brazil to Aruba via Trinidad in ballast, in position 10-30 N./60-20 W. (About 15 miles SE of Emerald Shoals off Trinidad). The ship was sailing unescorted.
Her complement consisted of 40 merchant crew and 9 U.S. Naval Armed Guard. One crew member, an A.B., was lost after the 2nd torpedo hit.
At 0405 ship's time, a torpedo struck on the port side just forward of the bridge followed immediately by a second which struck just aft of the bridge. The ship listed 25° to port but still kept some headway until the Jr. 3rd Engineer, on watch in the engine room, stopped the engine. About 0425, a 3rd torpedo struck the stern, exploding in the engine room blowing holes in both sides of the ship. She finally sank at 0515 turning over and sinking by the stern with her bow straight up.
After the 2nd torpedo struck, the Master ordered abandon ship. All hands left the ship except the Master, 2nd Mate, Radio Operator, and an Able Seaman. After the 3rd torpedo hit, the Master, knowing the ship could not be saved, ordered them to get off the ship. The 2nd Mate jumped overboard but the other three climbed down the boat ladder into the water. They were picked up by #1 boat which was in charge of the Chief Mate.
At daybreak, the 3 boats together headed for Trinidad. About 2200 that night they landed near Toco Pt. where they were met by natives who took them to a house, They were then taken to the survivor's camp at Port of Spain remaining there until September 16th when they were put aboard a USAT ship for repatriation to the U.S.
The U-515 (Henke) was sunk April 9, 1944 north of Madeira (35-35 N./19-18 W. by 4 U.S. Destroyer Escorts. There were 44 survivors including the C.O. who was later killed in an escape attempt from a U.S. POW camp.
U.S. MERCHANT SEAMAN LOST
SIDORO, Gallindo - A.B. - Philippine
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The Panamanian flag tanker, SS STANVAC MELBOURNE, was torpedoed and sunk by the German U-515 (Werner Henke) at
0405 ship's time on Septmber 12, 1942, while en route from Para, Brazil to Aruba via Trinidad in ballast, in position 10-30 N./
60-20 W. (About 15 miles SE of Emerald Shoals off Trinidad). The ship was sailing unescorted.
Her complement consisted of 40 merchant crew and 9 U.S. Naval Armed Guard. One crew member, an A.B.,
was lost after the 2nd torpedo hit.
- See location on a map -
At 0405 ship's time, a torpedo struck on the port side just forward of the bridge followed immediately by a second which struck
just aft of the bridge. The ship listed 25° to port but still kept some headway until the Jr. 3rd Engineer, on watch in the engine
room, stopped the engine. About 0425, a 3rd torpedo struck the stern, exploding in the engine room blowing holes in both
sides of the ship. She finally sank at 0515 turning over and sinking by the stern with her bow straight up.
After the 2nd torpedo struck, the Master ordered abandon ship. All hands left the ship except the Master, 2nd Mate, Radio
Operator, and an Able Seaman. After the 3rd torpedo hit, the Master, knowing the ship could not be saved, ordered them to
get off the ship. The 2nd Mate jumped overboard but the other three climbed down the boat ladder into the water. They were
picked up by # 1 boat which was in charge of the Chief Mate.
At daybreak, the 3 boats together headed for Trinidad. About 2200 that night they landed near Toco Pt. where they were met by
natives who took them to a house, They were then taken to the survivor's camp at Port of Spain remaining there until Septem-
ber 16th when they were put aboard a USAT ship for repatriation to the U.S.
The U-515 (Henke) was sunk April 9, 1944 north of Madeira (35-35 N./19-18 W. by 4 U.S. Destroyer Escorts. There were 44
survivors including the C.O. who was later killed in an escape attempt from a U.S. POW camp.
U.S. MERCHANT SEAMAN LOST:
SIDORO, Gallindo A.B. Philippine