Ships hit by U-boats


Alcoa Mariner

American Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of SSHSA Collection, University of Baltimore Library

NameAlcoa Mariner
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage5,590 tons
Completed1919 - Newburgh Shipyards Inc, Newburgh NY 
OwnerAlcoa SS Co, New York 
HomeportNew York 
Date of attack28 Sep 1942Nationality:      American
 
FateSunk by U-175 (Heinrich Bruns)
Position8° 57'N, 60° 08'W - Grid EO 1446
Complement54 (0 dead and 54 survivors).
Convoy
RouteTrinidad - Georgetown, British Guiana 
CargoBallast 
History Completed in March 1919 as New Windsor for US Shipping Board (USSB) and later laid up as part of the reserve fleet of the US Maritime Commission. 1940 renamed Alcoa Mariner for Alcoa SS Co, New York. 
Notes on event

At 11.49 hours on 28 Sep 1942, an armed guard on the unescorted Alcoa Mariner (Master John Luther Martino) spotted the wake of a torpedo from U-175 20 miles off the Orinoco River, Venezuela. With hard right rudder, the torpedo passed 15 feet astern, but three minutes later a second torpedo struck on the port side just forward of the poop deck. The explosion opened a crack three feet wide across the deck, destroyed the interior compartments and flooded the engine room. The stern dropped 30°, apparently held in place by the shaft. The eight officers, 33 men and 13 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, four 20mm and two .30cal guns) abandoned ship in four lifeboats and by jumping overboard. One hour later, the U-boat hit the ship with another torpedo aft of the engine room on the port side, causing the ship to sink rapidly by the stern at 13.05 hours. The lifeboats were sighted by a US Army patrol aircraft and six hours later the Canadian motor merchant Turret Cape rescued all hands and landed them in Georgetown.

The master, John Luther Martino, commanded earlier the Alcoa Cadet, which was mined and lost near Murmansk on 21 June 1942.

 
On boardWe have details of 5 people who were on board


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