Ships hit by U-boats


Elizabeth Kellogg

American Steam tanker



Photo courtesy of the Mariners Museum, Newport News VA

NameElizabeth Kellogg
Type:Steam tanker
Tonnage5,189 tons
Completed1920 - Terry Shipbuilding Co, Savannah GA 
OwnerSpencer, Kellogg & Sons, New York 
HomeportNew York 
Date of attack23 Nov 1943Nationality:      American
 
FateSunk by U-516 (Hans-Rutger Tillessen)
Position11° 10'N, 80° 42'W - Grid EB 8958
Complement48 (10 dead and 38 survivors).
Convoy
RouteCuraƧao - Cristobal, Panama - Puerto Barrios, Guatemala 
Cargo45,940 barrels of bunker C oil 
History Completed in May 1920 as Darden for US Shipping Board (USSB). 1929 renamed Elizabeth Kellogg for Spencer, Kellogg & Sons, New York. 
Notes on event

At 09.35 hours on 23 Nov 1943 the unescorted Elizabeth Kellogg (Master Norman Thomson Henderson) was hit on the port side amidships at the #4 tank by one torpedo from U-516 150 miles north of Cristobal. The explosion ruptured the #2, #3 and #4 port tanks and threw burning oil all over the ship. The tanker caught fire from the bridge to the poop deck and killed all the deck officers. Flames shot through the ventilators into the engine room and prevented the watch below from throttling down the engines. The survivors of seven officers, 29 men and twelve armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, two .50cal and two .30cal guns) abandoned ship in two lifeboats, two rafts and others jumped into the water. The burning tanker with engines full speed astern and her rudder hard aport made large circles around the survivors. The master, four other officers, three men and two armed guards died in the attack. The after magazine exploded after six hours, broke her back and the fire burned out after about twelve hours. An aircraft spotted the stopped tanker, took a picture and reported the position. The American tug USS Favorite (IX 45) and several escort vessels were sent to salvage the ship, but the vessel sank before they arrived. On 24 November, the Army tanker USAT Y-10 picked up six survivors and USS SC-1017 the remaining survivors. All were landed in Cristobal the same day.

 
On boardWe have details of 11 people who were on board


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