1941 — Dec 10, freighter Oregon sinks after collision with USN vessel off Nantucket, MA-17

— 17 AMMW. Chronological List of U.S. Ships Sunk or Damaged 1939 to 1941.
— 17 Helena Independent (MT). “Motor Vessel…Warship Crash…Score Perish,” Dec 12,1941.
— 17 Lowell Sun. “Gripping Tale of Heroism in Ship-Sinking Off Nantucket,” Dec 13, 1941, 1.
— 17 Office of Government Reports. This Week in Defense. Washington, DC: 12-12-1941, p. 4.
–9 lives known lost
–8 missing and presumed dead

Blanchard note: Have not found account which explains why Battleship New Mexico did not stop and attempt to render aid.
Narrative Information

American Merchant Marine at War. Chronological List of U.S. Ships Sunk or Damaged…
“Date Ship Type Cause Result Location Deaths
“12/10/41 Oregon (States Steamship) Freighter Collision Sunk Eastcoast Crew 17.”

This Week in Defense, 12-12-1941, p. 4: “The Maritime Commission, under a war-time policy, requested the press, radio and other disseminators of information to refrain from publication or announcement of anything (or use of photographs) which contains direct or indirect information concerning any merchant vessels in any waters. The Commission announced the MV [motor vessel] Oregon was sunk off Nantucket after a collision with a U.S. naval vessel with loss of nine lives and eight others still missing. This is the first loss of a Commission-built ship in the present war. The Commerce Department ordered American cargo ships to carry additional lifeboats and life rafts as safety precautions for all persons aboard including naval gun crews.”

Wikipedia, “USS New Mexico (BB-40): “…. World War II, 1940-43….On 10 December, while headed to Hampton Roads (en route to the west coast after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor), she accidentally rammed and sank the U.S. freighter Oregon south of the Nantucket Lightship off Boston Harbor….”

Newspapers

Dec 11, Helena Independent: “Boston, Dec. 11. — (AP) – Fears were entertained tonight that 17 members of the crew of the freighter Oregon perished when she sank after a collision with a naval vessel off Nantucket yesterday. Of a crew believed to have numbered 42, the rescued totaled 25 and nine bodies were recovered, leaving eight missing. Eighteen survivors were brought to New Bedford by the Viking, a fishing vessel, which also bore eight bodies. Seven other survivors arrived at Boson on a tanker with the body of Chief Officer D. C. McNaught…. the navy, the coast guard, the freighter’s agents and all others in any way connected with the disaster remained rigidly uncommunicative.

“There was reason to believe some of the missing were in a lifeboat which capsized after drawing away from the Oregon. Some members of the crew were forced to leap into the sea as she sank and it was thought a few might have succumbed to the icy water.

“The collision occurred before dawn and at first the Oregon’s officer’s hoped to bring her into port. Several hours later, however, a radiogram said that she was sinking. The Oregon, a new motorship, was believed to have suffered greatest damage in the fore section.” (Helena Independent, MT. “Motor Vessel…Warship Crash…Score Perish,” Dec 12,1941.)

Dec 12, Lowell Sun: “Boston, Dec. 12 (INS) – A federal board of inquiry today heard the stories of 25 survivors of the $2,270,000 motorship Oregon, rammed and sunk off Nantucket Island early Wednesday in a collision with a United States warship….

“According to attorneys for the Pacific-Atlantic Steamship company, owners of the Oregon, watertight doors on the ship were closed and all hands manned the pumps as Captain Elton P. Gillette…a lieutenant commander in the naval reserve, attempted to bring his ship into New Bedford after the crash. Seven hours after the crash, they reported , it became apparent the ship was sinking and Captain Gillette ordered the crew to abandon ship. With the exception of Chief Officer McNaught who was crashed against the side of the ship when he jumped into the water, the victims were drowned when one of the lifeboats was capsized by high seas….” (Lowell Sun and Citizen Leader, MA. “Probe Crash That Sunk Motorship,” December 12, 1941, p. 2.)

Sources

American Merchant Marine at War. Chronological List of U.S. Ships Sunk or Damaged 1939 to 1941. Accessed 5-2-2021 at: http://www.usmm.org/sunk39-41.html#anchor325668

Helena Independent, MT. “Motor Vessel and Warship Crash And Score Perish – Freighter Oregon Is At Bottom After Atlantic Collision,” Dec 12, 1941, p. 9. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=5316560

Lowell Sun, MA. “Probe Crash That Sunk Motorship,” December 12, 1941, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=55899096

Office of Government Reports. This Week in Defense. Washington, DC: 12-12-1941. Accessed 5-2-2021 at: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Week_of_the_War/W4tIAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22mv+oregon%22+1941&pg=PT196&printsec=frontcover

Wreck Site. “MV Oregon (+1941).” Accessed 5-2-2021 at: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?18429