1942 — Apr 11, tanker Harry F. Sinclair Jr. torpedoed by U-boat ~7M so. of Cape Lookout, NC–10

–10 American Merchant Marine at War. U.S. Ships Sunk or Damaged on Eastcoast of U.S…
–10 Helgason. Ships hit by U-boats. “Harry F. Sinclair, Jr. – American Steam merchant.”

Narrative Information

American Merchant Marine at War:
“Date Ship Type Cause Result Location Deaths
“04/11/42 Harry F. Sinclair Jr. Tanker Torpedo Damaged Eastcoast Crew 10.”

Helgason/u-boat.net:
“Name Harry F. Sinclair, Jr.
“Type Steam tanker
“Tonnage 6,151 tons
“Completed 1931 – Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp, Quincy MA
“Owner Sinclair Refining Co., New York
“Homeport Wilmington
“Date of attack 11 Apr 1942
“Nationality American
“Fate Damaged by U-203 (Rolf Mutzelburg)
“Position 34° 25’N, 76° 30’W – Grid DC 1193
“Complement 36 (10 dead and 26 survivors).
“Route Houston, Texas (5 Apr) – Norfolk, Virginia
“Cargo 66,000 bbls of gasoline
“History
“Notes on event At 13.20 hours on 11 April 1942 the unarmed Harry F. Sinclair, Jr. (Master William Collegan) was torpedoed by U-203 miles south of Cape Lookout, while steaming on a zigzag course at 13.5 knots with USS Herbert (DD 160) and a US Coast Guard boat as escort off the port quarter. A torpedo struck on the port side under the pump room between the #4 and #5 tanks.

“The explosion immediately created a blazing inferno amidships and the crew of eight officers and 28 crewmen left the ship in three lifeboats and one raft, but the men in one of the lifeboats perished in the flames. Neither the radio operator nor any of the deck officers survived, a total of four officers (including the master) and six crewmen died. The survivors in the lifeboats were picked up about two hours later by HMS Hertfordshire (FY 176) and the two men on the raft were rescued by the destroyer. All survivors landed in Morehead City, North Carolina.

“On 15 April, the burned out Harry F. Sinclair, Jr. was towed into Morehead City by HMS Senateur Duhamel (FY 327). She was eventually towed to Baltimore, arriving on 24 June, where the ship was repaired and returned to service in 1943 as Annibal.”

Sources

American Merchant Marine at War. U.S. Ships Sunk or Damaged on Eastcoast of U.S, and Gulf of Mexico During World War II Eastcoast of U.S. (175 ships). Accessed 4-18-2021 at: http://www.usmm.org/eastgulf.html

Helgason, Gudmundur. Ships hit by U-boats. “Harry F. Sinclair Jr. – American Steam tanker.” Accessed 4-18-2021 at: https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/1522.html