Ships hit by U-boats


Andrew Jackson

American Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of William Hultgren

NameAndrew Jackson
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage5,990 tons
Completed1920 - Merchant Shipbuilding Corp, Harriman PA 
OwnerWaterman Steamship Co, Mobile AL 
HomeportMobile 
Date of attack13 Jul 1942Nationality:      American
 
FateSunk by U-84 (Horst Uphoff)
Position23° 32'N, 81° 02'W - Grid DM 5283
Complement49 (3 dead and 46 survivors).
Convoy
RouteCristobal - Key West, Florida 
CargoBallast 
History Completed in July 1920 as Salaam for US Shipping Board (USSB) and later laid up as part of the reserve fleet. 1940 renamed Andrew Jackson for Waterman Steamship Co, Mobile AL. 
Notes on event

At 04.08 hours on 13 July 1942 the unescorted Andrew Jackson (Master Frank Lewis Murdock) on a nonevasive course was attacked by U-84 with two torpedoes about 20 miles off Cardenas Light, Cuba. Only one of the torpedoes struck just aft of amidships. The blast killed three men on watch, destroyed the engines and vented through the deck above the engine room, collapsing portions of the stern. The eight officers, 30 crewmen and 11 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, four .50cal and two .30cal guns) abandoned the ship before a second torpedo struck, which sank the ship immediately. The survivors landed at Vavendaro on the north coast of Cuba in three lifeboats 12 hours after the attack.

The master Frank Lewis Murdock was also in command of the Yaka, which was damaged by U-624 (Soden-Fraunhofen) in convoy ONS-144 and sunk by U-522 (Schneider) on 18 Nov 1942.

 
On boardWe have details of 4 people who were on board


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