Ships hit by U-boats


Olga

American Steam merchant



Olga under her former name Craigrownie

NameOlga
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage2,496 tons
Completed1919 - Great Lakes Engineering Works, Ashtabula OH 
OwnerCarter Coal Transportation Co, Boston MA 
HomeportWilmington 
Date of attack12 Mar 1942Nationality:      American
 
FateSunk by U-126 (Ernst Bauer)
Position21° 32'N, 76° 24'W - Grid DM 6959
Complement33 (1 dead and 32 survivors).
Convoy
RoutePort Everglades, Florida - Baracoa, Cuba 
CargoBallast 
History Completed in May 1919 as Craigrownie for US Shipping Board (USSB). 1922 renamed Penobscot for C.H. Sprague & Son, Boston MA. 1933 renamed Ida Hay Atwater for Atwacoal Transportation Co, Fall River MA. 1938 renamed Olga for Carter Coal Transportation Co, Boston MA. 
Notes on event

At 06.11 hours on 12 March 1942 the unarmed and unescorted Olga (Master William Dewey Graham) was hit by one torpedo from U-126 about 20 miles north of Nuevitas Light, Cuba in the Old Bahama Channel, while steaming on a nonevasive course at 10.5 knots. The torpedo struck on the port side at the #4 hold, destroying the fireroom bulkhead, blowing away the #4 hatch cover and wrecking the wheelhouse and radio room. A lookout had spotted the torpedo wake but it was too late to take avoiding action. The crew of eight officers and 25 crewmen abandoned ship in one lifeboat and two rafts, while the ship stopped and sank at 06.40 hours. The first mate Arthur Wilder was picked up by the U-boat, questioned and was then allowed to swim to the nearest raft containing three other men. When the U-boat got underway, its wake swamped the raft and washed the men from it. The second cook died in the water from shock and exposure. 27 survivors were picked up by USS Hambleton (DD 455) later that day and taken to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Five others were rescued by a flying boat the following day and also taken to Guantanamo Bay.

 
On boardWe have details of 3 people who were on board


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