Gross Tonnage:	5,687	Net:	3,450
Dimensions:	424' 2" x 56' 2" x 26' 5"	MC Type:
Builder:	Chickasaw Shipbuilding & Car Co. Chickasaw, AL	Hull # USMC Hull # Date of Build: Delivered:	14 1921
Engines:	2 Steam Turbines DR Geared to Single Screwed Shaft	Engine Builder:	W. & A. Fletcher Co. Hoboken, NJ
Navigation:	GyC	Decks, etc.:	2 Decks 3tr B, Fitted for Oil Fuel

Began Isthmian Service:

1921

Ended Isthmian Service:

1943

----------------------------------- Vessel History -----------------------------------

Date	Vessel #	Vessel Name	Vessel Owner	Call Ltrs	Home Port	Flag
1921	221643	Chattanooga City	U.S. Steel Products Co. New York	MDFN	New York	US
1930	221643	Chattanooga City	May: Isthmian Lines, Inc. New York	MDFN	New York	US
1933	221643	Chattanooga City	Isthmian Lines, Inc. New York	KDUW	New York	US

Events:

Disposition Date

Comments

1943

2/22 - The vessel sailed from Liverpool, UK to New York, carrying 3,500 tons sand ballast, Robert C. Forbes Master, as part of Convoy ON-166. At 7:20 PM, position 46.54 N, 34.30 W, East of St, John's Newfoundland, while steaming at 9.5 knots, the U-606 (Dohler) fired a torpedo, striking the ship in the center of #4 hold. The explosion lifted the vessel out of the water, blew the hatch covers of #3 and #4 holds, tore the deck booms away and probably severed the main shaft. The ship quickly listed to starboard and settled rapidly. Just 2 minutes after the explosion the Master ordered the ship abandoned, with water reaching the welldeck 1 minute later. The vessel sank by the stern in about 15 mins. The 10 officers, 27 crewmen and 21 armed guards left the ship in 4 boats and 1 raft. The Canadian Corvette TRILLIUM (K-172) rescued the survivors 3 hours later. Ten of the gun crew transferred to the USCG SPENCER (WPG-36) landing in Argentia, Newfoundland, the rest landing at St. Johns. All hands survived the attack. "At 2120 there was a tremendous explosion at number four hold on the starboard side. It seemed to lift the ship out of the water; blew off all the hatch covers of number three and number four holds. The shaft was broken. There was nothing to do but abandon ship." "Heroes in Dungarees", page 116

The information on this web site is the kind contribution of our Historian, Skip Lewis, © 2003. Skip, whose dad sailed for Isthmian, is an avid collector and researcher of everything Isthmian and States Marine. In his quest, he has used many sources and publications including Lloyd's of London and Imperial Steel by John Atherton.