1942 — Feb 6, US freighter Major Wheeler sunk by U-boat ~130m off Cape Hatteras NC–35

–35 AAMW. US Ships Sunk or Damaged on Eastcoast of U.S….World War II…. 2010.
–35 Helgason. “Ships hit by U-boats. Major Wheeler, American Steam merchant.” Uboat.net.

Narrative Information

American Merchant Marine at War:
Date Ship Type Cause Result Location Deaths
“02/06/42 Major Wheeler Freighter Torpedo Sunk Eastcoast Crew 35

Helgason/uboat.net:
“Name Major Wheeler
“Type Steam merchant
“Tonnage 3,431 tons
“Completed 1918 – Hanlon Dry Dock & Shipbuilding Co., Oakland CA
“Owner A. H. Bull & Co., Inc., New York
“Homeport Baltimore
“Date of attack 6 Feb 1942
“Nationality American
“Fate Sunk by U-107 (Harald Gelhaus)
“Position 34° 39’N, 73° 02’W – Grid DC 2134
“Complement 35 (35 dead – no survivors)
“Route Fajardo, Puerto Rico (31 Jan) – Philadelphia
“Cargo 4611 tons of sugar
….
“Notes on event At 16.08 hours on 6 February 1942 the unescorted and unarmed Major Wheeler (Master Frank Walter Losey) was hit on starboard side underneath the aft mast by one G7e torpedo from U-107 while steaming on a non-evasive course in good weather about 130 miles east-southeast of Cape Hatteras. The U-boat had spotted another freighter, but disengaged to chase the Major Wheeler which developed a list to starboard after being hit and sank in two minutes by the stern. None of the eight officers and 27 crewmen survived.”

Note: uboat.net has information on all 35 aboard; accessible at: https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship1317.html

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). 12-22-2010. Webpage accessed 4-13-2021 at: http://www.usmm.org/eastgulf.html

Helgason, Gudmundur. “Ships hit by U-boats. Major Wheeler, American Steam merchant.” uboat.net. Webpage accessed 4-12-2021 at: https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/1317.html