Oakmar
We don't have a picture of this vessel at this time.
| Name | Oakmar | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 5.766 tons | ||
| Completed | 1920 - Mitsui Bussan Kaisha, Tama | ||
| Owner | Calmar SS Co Inc, New York | ||
| Homeport | New York | ||
| Date of attack | 20 Mar, 1942 | Nationality:  American | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-71 (Walter Flachsenberg) | ||
| Position | 36.22N, 68.50W - Grid CA 9641 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 36 (6 dead and 30 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Calcutta - Port of Spain, Trinidad - Boston | ||
| Cargo | Manganese ore, burlap and rubber | ||
| History | Built as Eastern Exporter, 1922 renamed William Campion, 1927 renamed Oakmar | ||
| Notes on loss | At 20.54 hours on 20 Mar, 1942, the unescorted and unarmed Oakmar (Master Nolan Eugene Fleming) was stopped by U-71 with machine gun fire into the bridge and superstructure, because bad weather prevented the use of the deck gun. The ship was stopped and the eight officers, 27 crewmen and one passenger abandoned ship in two lifeboats. A first torpedo at 21.20 hours missed due to the heavy seas, but the second fired at 21.39 hours hit forward of the bridge and caused the ship to sink by the bow about 300 miles east of Cape Hatteras. The master, one officer and four crewmen were lost. Two men fell overboard and drowned because they could not be rescued due the heavy seas and the port lifeboat containing four survivors was never found. The survivors in the starboard lifeboat were picked up on 22 March by the Stavros and landed at Bermuda two days later. | ||
If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.