Ships hit by U-boats


Winona

American Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of Weyerhaeuser Co

NameWinona
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage6,197 tons
Completed1919 - Federal Shipbuilding Co, Kearny NJ 
OwnerWeyerhaeuser SS Co, Tacoma WA 
HomeportEverett 
Date of attack16 Oct 1942Nationality:      American
 
FateDamaged by U-160 (Georg Lassen)
Position11° 00'N, 61° 10'W - Grid ED 9954
Complement56 (0 dead and 56 survivors).
ConvoyTRIN-19
RouteNorfolk, Virginia - Port of Spain, Trinidad - Rio de Janeiro 
Cargo8000 tons of coal 
History Completed in February 1919 as The Lambs for US Shipping Board (USSB). 1927 renamed Exporter for American Export Lines Inc, New York. 1937 renamed Winona for Weyerhaeuser SS Co, Tacoma WA.

Post-war:
1945 transferred to the Sovietunion and renamed Akademik Pavlov. Broken up in Russia in 1974. 
Notes on event

At 21.20 hours on 16 Oct 1942, U-160 fired torpedoes from the starboard side at convoy TRIN-19 50 miles east-northeast of Trinidad. One torpedo struck the Castle Harbour in station #81, which lost her bow and sank within 20 seconds and another struck 30 seconds later the Winona in station #72, which was damaged but reached Port of Spain under own power.

The Winona (Master John Beale Rynbergen) was hit on the starboard side in the #2 hold. The explosion blew the hatch covers off and opened a hole 68 by 28 feet, flooding the #2 holds and causing leaks in #1 and #3 holds. After returning from securing the confidential documents, the master found the helm unattended so he stopped the engines and tried to evade the other ships in convoy, but her bow grazed the stern of the Norwegian steam merchant Austvangen (2420 grt), slightly damaging both ships. The eight officers, 33 crewmen and 15 armed guards did not abandon the badly listing ship, brought the leaks under control by the pumps and steered her into Port of Spain under own power the next day.

On 3 Feb 1943 the Winona left Port of Spain after temporary repairs in convoy TAG-40 to Mobile for repairs and returned to service in April 1943.

 
On boardWe have details of 4 people who were on board


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