USS Joseph Hewes (AP 50)
American Troop transport
Name | USS Joseph Hewes (AP 50) | ||
Type: | Troop transport | ||
Tonnage | 9,359 tons | ||
Completed | 1930 - New York Shipbuilding Corp, Camden NJ | ||
Owner | United States Navy | ||
Homeport | New York | ||
Date of attack | 11 Nov 1942 | Nationality: American | |
Fate | Sunk by U-173 (Hans-Adolf Schweichel) | ||
Position | 33° 40'N, 7° 30'W - Grid DJ 2519 | ||
Complement | 358 (100 dead and 258 survivors). | ||
Convoy | UGF-1 | ||
Route | Hampton Roads (24 Oct) - Fedhala, Morocco (8 Nov) | ||
Cargo | None | ||
History | Completed in December 1930 as steam passenger ship Excalibur for American Export Lines Inc, New York. On 8 Jan 1942, requisitioned by the US Navy and converted to the troop transport USS Joseph Hewes (AP 50). She received one battle star for her World War 2 service. | ||
Notes on event | Between 19.48 and 19.56 hours on 11 Nov 1942, U-173 fired torpedoes at the anchored ships of convoy UGF-1 in the Fedhala roads and heard three detonations. Schweichel reported only one ship damaged, because no visual observations were made due to A/S activity. In fact, the transporter USS Joseph Hewes (AP 50) was sunk and the oiler USS Winooski (AO 38) and the destroyer USS Hambleton (DD 455) were damaged. The USS Joseph Hewes (AP 50) (Capt Robert M. Smith) was part of the Task Group 34.9 (Center Attack Group, Western Naval Task Force) in Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa. The transport had arrived at 07.05 hours on 8 November off Fedala and landed 80 officers and 1074 rankings of the reinforced 3rd US Army Division, vehicles and supplies. At the time of the attack, she had been completely unloaded and had taken 30 wounded soldiers on board. | ||
On board | We have details of 6 people who were on board. |
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