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Isthmian Name: | Steelmaker | Period: | Ancient |
| Gross Tonnage: | 6,176 | Net: | 3,802 |
| Dimensions: | 395' 5" x 55' 0" x 31' 4" | MC Type: | 1037 |
| Builder: | Federal Shipbuilding Co. Kearny, NJ | Hull # USMC Hull # Date of Build: Delivered: | 32 1920 1/20 |
| Engines: | 2 Steam Turbines DR Geared to Single Screwed Shaft | Engine Builder: | Midwest Engine Co. Indianapolis, IN |
| Navigation: | GyC | Decks, etc.: | 1 Deck(Stl), Shelter Deck(Stl) & Web Frames & Longitudinal Framing, Fitted for Oil Fuel |
| Began Isthmian Service: | 1920 | Ended Isthmian Service: | 1942 |
----------------------------------- Vessel History ----------------------------------- |
Date | Vessel # | Vessel Name | Vessel Owner | Call Ltrs | Home Port | Flag |
1920 | 219513 | Steelmaker | U.S. Steel Products Co. New York | LVKD | New York | US |
1930 | 219513 | Steelmaker | August: Isthmian Lines, Inc. New York | LVKD | New York | US |
1933 | 219513 | Steelmaker | Isthmian Lines, Inc. New York | KOXX | New York | US |
| Disposition Date | Comments |
| 1942 | 4/19 - The vessel sailed from New York to Abadan, Iran via Capetown, South Africa. At 10:32 PM the ship, with 7,660 tons war supplies, steaming an 11 knot zigzag course was attacked at 33.05 N, 70.36 W, about 350 miles East of Wilmington, NC, by U-654 (Forster) who fired two torpedoes. The first missed; the second striking the port side in the #5 after cargo hold, ripping a large hole in the side spewing cargo and wreckage into the water. The Master, Leonard Duks, stopped the vessel and ordered the ship abandoned. The vessel sunk in 15 minutes. The 9 officers, 28 crewman, 9 armed guards and 1 passenger escaped in 2 lifeboats in less than 10 minutes. The U-654 surfaced after the ship sank and questioned the Master concerning the ship name, tonnage, destination and cargo. A U-Boat officer stated, "I am sorry to have to sink you and do this to you, but this is war. You will be rescued, do not worry, I shall send your position out by radio." The following day, 4/20, the 2 lifeboats redistributed their load. On 4/22, the USS ROWAN (DD-405) rescued 18 survivors, including 5 armed guards in one boat, landing them in Norfolk. On 4/29 the British SS PACIFIC EXPORTER picked up 27 additional survivors off Frying Pan Shoals, later transferring them to a Coast Guard boat that landed at Morehead City, NC. The radio operator managed to grasp onto a raft as the vessel sank and, by combining the emergency supplies of several rafts, he survived for 29 days until being picked up by a rescue craft. Only the steward died in the attack. |
| The information on this page is the kind contribution of Skip Lewis. Skip, whose dad sailed for Isthmian, is an avid collector and researcher of everything Isthmian. In his quest, he has used many sources and publications including Lloyd's of London and Imperial Steel by John Atherton. Thank you, Skip. Copyright © 2003-2007 - All rights reserved. |
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