Pennsylvania Sun
The Pennsylvania Sun burning after being hit by a torpedo from U-571
| Name | Pennsylvania Sun | ||
| Type: | Motor tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 11.394 tons | ||
| Completed | 1938 - Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co, Chester PA | ||
| Owner | Sun Oil Company, Philadelphia PA | ||
| Homeport | Philadelphia | ||
| Date of attack | 15 Jul, 1942 | Nationality:  American | |
| Fate | Damaged by U-571 (Helmut Möhlmann) | ||
| Position | 24.05N, 83.42W - Grid DM 1976 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 59 (2 dead and 57 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Port Arthur, Texas - Belfast | ||
| Cargo | 107.500 barrels of Navy fuel oil | ||
| History | | ||
| Notes on loss | At 07.49 hours on 15 Jul, 1942, the unescorted Pennsylvania Sun (Master Frederick Lyall) was hit by one torpedo from U-571 about 125 miles west of Key West, while steaming on a zigzag course at 14 knots. The torpedo struck amidships on the port side between the #5 and #6 tanks and blew away the port wing of the bridge, killed the quartermaster and a seaman and ignited the cargo. The master steered for five minutes southeast at full speed and then ordered the engines stopped, while a distress signal was sent and confirmed. The survivors among the nine officers, 33 crewmen and 17 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 5in, one 3in, four 20mm and two .30cal guns) on board abandoned ship in three lifeboats, rowed away and put out sea anchors to wait for a rescue vessel. They were picked up by the USS Dahlgren (DD 187) after three and one-half hours and taken to Key West the same day. The next evening, the master, three officers and the crew of the American salvage tug USS Willet (ARS 12) returned to the Pennsylvania Sun, when a patrol aircraft reported that the fire had abated. They extinguished the flames and towed her to Key West, where temporary repairs were made. The tanker steamed under own power with her crew to Chester, Pennsylvania and returned to service after the permanent repairs were completed. | ||
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