1942 — Jan 18, Tanker Allan Jackson sunk by U-boat, ~60m east-ne, Diamond Shoals, NC-22

–22 American Merchant Marine at War. U.S. Ships Sunk or Damaged on Eastcoast of U.S. …
–22 Helgason, Gudmundur. “Ships hit by U-boats. Allan Jackson, American Steam tanker.”

Narrative Information

Helgason: “Ships hit by U-boats. Allan Jackson, American Steam tanker.” uboat.net.

“Type Steam tanker
“Tonnage 6,635 tons
“Completed 1921 – Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp., Alameda CA
“Owner Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey, New York
“Homeport Wilmington
“Date of attack 18 Jan 1942
“Nationality American
“Fate Sunk by U-66 (Richard Zapp)
“Position 35° 57’N, 74° 20’W – Grid CA 8779
“Complement 35 (22 dead and 13 survivors).
“Route Cartagena, Colombia – New York
“Cargo 72.870 barrels of crude oil
….
“Notes on event: At 08.33 hours on 18 Jan 1942 the unescorted and unarmed Allan Jackson (Master Felix W. Kretchmer) was hit by two torpedoes from U-66, while proceeding without routing instructions about 60 miles east-northeast of Diamond Shoals, North Carolina. The first torpedo hit the starboard side forward of the bridge in the forward tank and the second hit the starboard side aft of the deckhouse between #2 and #3 tanks and broke the ship in two about 25 feet forward of the midship house, nearly in line with the foremast. This caused both parts of the burning tanker to sink within 10 minutes. Flaming oil spewed from the tanker´s side and spread over the water hundreds of feet around the ship, making it hazardous for the crew to abandon ship. Many of the men burned to death because only the #3 boat with eight men could be launched. Five men jumped into the water and clung to wreckage. The radio operator was picked up by the lifeboat after 15 minutes. The second mate, the third mate and an able seaman were picked up by USS Roe (DD 418) four hours later. The destroyer then picked up the occupants of the lifeboat and found the master after seven hours in the water. On 19 January, all survivors were landed at Norfolk, Virginia. Of the eight officers and 27 men aboard, only three officers and 10 men survived, eight of them injured.”

Information on 35 of those onboard can be accessed at: https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship1265.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 4-11-2021 at: http://www.usmm.org/eastgulf.html

Helgason, Gudmundur. “Ships hit by U-boats. Allan Jackson, American Steam tanker.” Uboat.net. Webpage accessed 4-11-2021 at: https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/1265.html