Sun
American Motor tanker
Photo courtesy of Sun Refining & Marketing Co
| Name | Sun | ||
| Type: | Motor tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 9,002 tons | ||
| Completed | 1928 - Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co, Chester PA | ||
| Owner | Sun Oil Company, Philadelphia PA | ||
| Homeport | Philadelphia | ||
| Date of attack | 16 May 1942 | Nationality:  American | |
| Fate | Damaged by U-506 (Erich Würdemann) | ||
| Position | 28° 41'N, 90° 19'W - Grid DA 9521 | ||
| Complement | 42 (0 dead and 42 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Chester, Pennsylvania - Beaumont, Texas | ||
| Cargo | Water ballast | ||
| History | Completed in July 1928 At 16.43 hours on 23 Feb 1942, the unescorted and unarmed Sun (Master Cornelius Van Gemert) was hit aft of midships on the port side by one torpedo from U-502 about 54 miles north of Aruba in 13°02N/70°41W. The tanker was en route from Chester to Aruba in water ballast. The explosion ripped the side and bottom almost completely out and tore out most of the inner structure and framework. The crew of eight officers and 28 crewmen initially abandoned ship in two lifeboats but reboarded the vessel after an aircraft was sighted. The tanker anchored near the Venezuelan coast until the following morning and then sailed to Aruba with air escort. She returned to Chester after temporary repairs were made at Aruba. Post-war: 1954 sold to Greece and renamed Nonna Despo. Broken up at Tokyo in August 1959. | ||
| Notes on event | At 11.01 hours on 16 May 1942 the unescorted Sun (Master John Peter Bakke) was hit at the port bow by a torpedo from U-506 near Southwest Pass, Louisiana. The explosion opened a hole of approximately 30 by 20 feet, bulged out some plates on the opposite side and ruptured the lower deck in several places. The tanker first stopped but soon turned away at full speed and the armed guards manning the guns, reaching New Orleans for repairs about 14 hours later. All eight officers, 29 crewmen and five armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in and four .30cal guns) survived. The U-boat did not chase the Sun because it attacked the William C. McTarnahan only a few minutes later. | ||
| On board | We have details of 2 people who were on board. | ||
Attack entries for Sun
| Date | U-boat | Commander | Loss type | Tons | Nat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Feb 1942 | U-502 | Kptlt. Jürgen von Rosenstiel | Damaged | 9,002 | |
| 16 May 1942 | U-506 | Kptlt. Erich Würdemann | Damaged | 9,002 | |
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