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Vancolite (I)- (1921-1926)
See also : E.J. Sadler
The entire crew of the "E. J. Sadler" escaped when their ship was shelled and sunk.
A view of the "E. J. Sadler´s" boilerroom as it appeared in the late 30´s.
Sisterships are E. T. Bedford, E. M. Clark, Walter Jennings and J. A. Moffet.
Seen here as "Vancolite (I)".
( Photo Glenbow Archives )
The Miramar Ship Index for "VANCOLITE"
IDNo:
|
2221181
|
Year:
|
1921
|
Name:
|
VANCOLITE
|
Keel:
|
|
Type:
|
Tanker
|
Launch Date:
|
24.03.1921
|
Flag:
|
USA
|
Date of completion:
|
04.1921
|
DWT:
|
|
Yard No:
|
46
|
Length overall:
|
|
Ship Design:
|
|
LPP:
|
152.5
|
Country of build:
|
USA
|
Beam:
|
20.7
|
Builder:
|
Federal
|
Material of build:
|
|
Location of yard:
|
Kearny
|
Number of screws/Mchy/Speed(kn):
|
2T-11
|
|
|
Subsequent History:
1926 E.J. SADLER
Disposal Data:
Shelled and sunk by U 159 at 15.36 N / 67.52 W on 22.06.1942.
History :
ON
|
LR/IMO
|
ID
|
Year
|
Name
|
Tons
|
Name change
|
Registered Owner
|
150585
|
|
2221181
|
1921
|
VANCOLITE
|
10831
|
|
Standard Oil Co (New Jersey)
|
221181
|
|
2221181
|
1921
|
E.J. SADLER
|
10831
|
1926
|
Standard Oil Co (New Jersey)
|
Additional information Starke & Schell registers :
VANCOLITE - 1921 USA 2T (aft) (11)
10,831GRT for Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey, New York 500.3 x 68.0
Tanker build by Federal SB. Co., Kearny, N.J. (4) #46, 221181
1921 - Imperial Oil, Ltd., Vancouver, B.C., CA, 150585
1926 - E. J. SADLER, Standard Oil Co. (New Jersey), New York, USA
1927 - Standard Shipping Co., Inc., Wilmington, Del.
1935 - Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey, Wilmington, Del.
Shelled and sunk by U 159, 22 June 1942, in 15.36 N - 67.52 W (175 miles south of
Windward Passage), voyage Aruba - New York, kerosene.
Additional information from Uboat.net :
Name: E.J. Sadler
Type: Steam tanker
Tonnage: 9.639 tons
Completed: 1921 - Federal Shipbuilding Co, Kearny NJ
Owner: Standard Oil Co of New Jersey, New York
Homeport: Wilmington
Date of attack: 22 Jun, 1942
Nationality: American
Fate: Sunk by U-159 (Helmut Witte)
Position: 15.36N, 67.52W - Grid ED 4161
- See location on a map -
Complement: 36 (0 dead and 36 survivors).
Convoy: Route: San Nicolas, Aruba (21 Jun) - New York
Cargo: 149.003 barrels of kerosene History: Built as Vancolite, 1926 renamed E.J. Sadler
Notes on loss: On 22 Jun, 1942, the unescorted and unarmed E.J. Sadler (Master Leslie Dean Cushman) was taken
under fire by U-159 about 175 miles south of the Windward Passage, as the tanker was 36 hours out of port and proceeding
on a nonevasive course at 8.4 knots. At 20.35 hours, U-159 began to shell the ship from a distance of about four miles. The
lookouts on the tanker had not seen the U-boat until it opened fire, but now the vessel immediately swung the stern toward
it and the radio operator began sending distress signals. Eight of the first ten rounds from the 10.5cm gun were hits and
the crew of eight officers and 28 men abandoned ship in four lifeboats. U-159 then fired another 75 rounds and 175 rounds
from the 37mm AA gun into the tanker at close range, which set the ship on fire, but the ship remained afloat. After four
hours a boarding party was sent aboard and placed scuttling charges, which finally sank the ship.
The next morning a PBY aircraft spotted the survivors and directed the American destroyer USS Biddle (DD 151),
which picked them up 20 hours after the attack and brought them to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.