Ships hit by U-boats


H.H. Rogers

Panamanian Steam tanker


We don't have a picture of this vessel at this time.


NameH.H. Rogers
Type:Steam tanker
Tonnage8,807 tons
Completed1916 - Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co, Newport News VA 
OwnerPanama Transport Co (Standard Oil Co), Panama 
HomeportPanama 
Date of attack21 Feb 1943Nationality:      Panamanian
 
FateSunk by U-664 (Adolf Graef)
Position50° 30'N, 24° 38'W - Grid BE 1171
Complement73 (0 dead and 73 survivors).
ConvoyONS-167
RouteLiverpool (12 Feb) - Belfast (14 Feb) - USA 
CargoBallast 
History Built as American H.H. Rogers for Standard Oil of New Jersey, Wilmington
1940 transferred to Panama Transport Co, Panama 
Notes on event

At 21.35 hours on 21 Feb 1943, U-664 fired torpedoes at convoy ONS-167 about 550 miles west of Fastnet, Ireland and reported three hits on a steamer and one on a tanker. The ships hit were Rosario in station #11 and H.H. Rogers in station #13.

The H.H. Rogers (Master Clinton W. Hayes) was struck by one torpedo on the port side around #10 main tank rupturing the tank, the decks in the vicinity and the fireroom bulkhead. This resulted in the engine and fire rooms flooding. After 30 minutes, the officers decided that the ship could not be saved and the order to abandon ship was given. All 47 American crew members and 26 armed guards abandoned ship in three lifeboats (one lifeboat had been destroyed in the explosion) and all rafts. One of the lifeboats picked up several survivors from the Rosario, which had been in the water for about one hour.
Almost all survivors were picked up by the British rescue ship Rathlin and landed at Halifax on 6 March. Four men on a raft were picked up by a British corvette and landed at St.Johns on 1 March. The wreck of the tanker was later sunk by U-664 with a coup de grâce in 50°13N/24°48W.

 
On boardWe have details of 5 people who were on board


If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.

Return to Allied Ships hit by U-boats