W.D. Anderson
American Steam tanker
Photo courtesy of The Mariners Museum, Newport News VA
| Name | W.D. Anderson | ||
| Type: | Steam tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 10,227 tons | ||
| Completed | 1921 - Moore Shipbuilding Co, Oakland CA | ||
| Owner | Atlantic Refining Co, Philadelphia PA | ||
| Homeport | Philadelphia | ||
| Date of attack | 23 Feb 1942 | Nationality:  American | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-504 (Hans-Georg Friedrich Poske) | ||
| Position | 27° 09'N, 79° 56'W - Grid DB 9793 | ||
| Complement | 36 (35 dead and 1 survivor). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Corpus Christi, Texas - Philadelphia | ||
| Cargo | 133.360 barrels of crude oil | ||
| History | Completed in September 1921 as Tamiahua for Southern Pacific Co. 1936 renamed W.D. Anderson for Atlantic Refining Co. | ||
| Notes on event | At 01.32 hours on 23 Feb 1942 the unescorted and unarmed W.D. Anderson (Master Albert Benjamin Walters) was torpedoed by U-504 about 12 miles northeast of Jupiter Light, Florida. The sole survivor was standing on the fantail when a first explosion let the ship burst into flames. Immediately he dove overboard and escaped a second explosion, but got caught in the wash of the propeller and surfaced astern of the tanker as burning oil spread around her. Eight officers and 27 crewmen were lost. The ship settled by the stern and later sank in 27°09N/80°15W. The survivor was picked up by a small fishing boat, transferred to a US Coast Guard vessel Trouper and taken to Stuart, Florida. | ||
| On board | We have details of 36 people who were on board. | ||
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