Major Wheeler
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| Name | Major Wheeler | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 3,431 tons | ||
| Completed | 1918 - Hanlon Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Co, Oakland CA | ||
| Owner | A.H. Bull & Co Inc, New York | ||
| Homeport | Baltimore | ||
| Date of attack | 6 Feb 1942 | Nationality:  American | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-107 (Harald Gelhaus) | ||
| Position | Grid DC 2134 - See estimated map location (34.40N73.50W) * | ||
| Complement | 35 (35 dead - no survivors) | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Fajardo, Puerto Rico (31 Jan) - Philadelphia | ||
| Cargo | 4611 tons of sugar | ||
| History | | ||
| Notes on loss | At 16.08 hours on 6 Feb, 1942, the unescorted and unarmed Major Wheeler (Master Frank Walter Losey) was hit by one torpedo from U-107 amidships and sank by the stern within two minutes east of Cape Hatteras. The U-boat had spotted another freighter, but disengaged and followed the Major Wheeler. None of the eight officers and 27 crewmen survived. | ||
* Estimated position shown here is based on positions of losses in a roughly the same German grid code. It may be a bit off but should give a good idea as to where the attack took place.
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