Steel Age
American Steam merchant
Name | Steel Age | ||
Type: | Steam merchant | ||
Tonnage | 6,188 tons | ||
Completed | 1920 - Federal Shipbuilding Co, Kearny NJ | ||
Owner | Isthmian SS Co, New York | ||
Homeport | New York | ||
Date of attack | 7 Mar 1942 | Nationality: American | |
Fate | Sunk by U-129 (Asmus Nicolai Clausen) | ||
Position | 6° 45'N, 53° 15'W - Grid EO 6625 | ||
Complement | 35 (34 dead and 1 survivor). | ||
Convoy | |||
Route | Calcutta (18 Jan) - Table Bay - Trinidad - New Orleans | ||
Cargo | Manganese ore | ||
History | Completed in February 1920 | ||
Notes on event | At 03.20 hours on 7 March 1942 the unescorted and unarmed Steel Age (Master Ralph Jones) was hit on the starboard side by two G7a torpedoes from U-129 about 130 miles northeast of Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana. The first torpedo hit amidships and the second between the #4 and #5 hatches, causing the ship to sink by the bow within two minutes. Eight officers and 25 crew members were lost. The sole survivor, an able seaman, jumped on a nearby life raft and was picked up by the U-boat after 20 minutes. He was landed at Lorient on 5 April and taken to the POW camp Marlag und Milag Nord near Bremen. | ||
On board | We have details of 35 people who were on board. |
If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.