SS James Sprunt Disaster
Date:
10 Mar 1943
to
10 Mar 1943
Location: about three miles southeast of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Surnames/tags: WWII United States Navy
Location: about three miles southeast of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
Surnames/tags: WWII United States Navy
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SS James Sprunt Disaster
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| James Sprunt |
- Name: James Sprunt
- Type: Steam merchant (Liberty)
- Tonnage: 7,177 tons
- Completed: 1943 - North Carolina Shipbuilding Co, Wilmington NC
- Owner: Black Diamond SS Co, New York
- Homeport: Wilmington
- Date of attack: 10 Mar 1943
- Nationality: American
- Fate: Sunk by U-185 (August Maus)
- Position: 19° 49'N, 74° 38'W - Grid DN 7643
- Complement: 69 (69 dead - no survivors)
- Convoy: KG-123
- Route: Charleston, South Carolina - Key West - Panama Canal - Karachi, India
- Cargo: 4000 tons of explosives
- History: Completed February 1943
- Notes on event: At 09.09 hours on 10 March 1943, U-185 attacked the convoy KG-123 for a second time southeast of Guantanamo Bay and torpedoed the James Sprunt (Master Elie Constantine Carr) on her maiden voyage in station #42. The ship had shifted out of position between the third and fourth columns. One torpedo struck the vessel and caused her cargo to explode, the ship completely disappeared in 30 seconds. The blast went straight up and sent debris over the entire convoy and was so large that a ship 40 miles away witnessed it. [1]
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| SS James Sprunt Disater Location |
- CARIBBEAN SEA: At 0909, U-185 attacked Convoy KG-123 for a second time SE of Guantanamo Bay and torpedoed the James Sprunt on her maiden voyage in station #42. The ship had shifted out of position between the third and fourth columns. One torpedo struck the vessel and caused her cargo to explode, the ship completely disappeared in 30 seconds. The blast went straight up and sent debris over the entire convoy and was so large that a ship 40 miles away witnessed it. Previously U-185 had sunk steam tanker Virginia Sinclair, which suffered 7 deaths.
- HMC ML 072 and 081 damaged when ammunition ship SS James Sprunt blew up when torpedoed by U-185 off Cape Maysi, Cuba, The explosion was approximately twice the magnitude of the 6 Dec 1917 at Halifax. (Dave Shirlaw)[2]
Casualties
|
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- None of the eight officers, 36 crewmen and 25 armed guards survived.
- All were awarded a Purple Heart
- None of the eight officers, 36 crewmen and 25 armed guards survived.
| Aseltine, Wesley Raymond | USNR | Seaman First Class |
| Austin, Milton George | USNR | Seaman First Class |
| Balog, William Joseph | USNR | Seaman First Class |
| Baxley, James Arthur | USNR | Seaman First Class |
| Beck, Kenneth | USNR | Seaman First Class |
| Beckering, Wilbert William | USNR | Seaman First Class |
| Beech, Horace Edward | USNR | Seaman Second Class |
| Boblit, Clarence W. | Merchant Marine | Ordinary Seaman |
| Boyle, Thomas Aloysius | USNR | Seaman First Class |
| Broussard, Morris Joseph | USNR | Seaman First Class |
| Buck, Michael | Merchant Marine | 23 Engineer Cadet |
| Campbell, Hansel William | USNR | Seaman Second Class |
| Carr, Elie Constantine | Merchant Marine | Master |
| Chandler, John H. | Merchant Marine | Third Assistant Engineer |
| Colbert, Lewis Jack | USNR | Seaman First Class |
| Corron, Reon B. | Merchant Marine | Cook |
| DeRosa, Julio P. | Merchant Marine | Cook |
| Eaton, George B. | Merchant Marine | Second Assistant Engineer |
| Eichelberger, B.F. | Merchant Marine | Fireman/Wiper |
| Engstrom, Martin | Merchant Marine | Fireman/Wiper |
| Fallen, Clifford Willis | USNR | Seaman First Class |
| Grove, Robert C. | Merchant Marine | Wiper |
| Hamlin, William M. | Merchant Marine | Fireman/Wiper |
| Hancock, Homer | Merchant Marine | Deck Maintainer |
| Harrison, Robert O. | Merchant Marine | Able Seaman |
| Harvey, Leroy L. | Merchant Marine | Oiler |
| Hauer, Albert | Merchant Marine | Chief Engineer |
| Hermann, Howard I. | Merchant Marine | Messman |
| Hutton, William | Merchant Marine | Boatswain (Bosun) |
| Johnson, Frank L. | Merchant Marine | Purser |
| Johnston, Owen J. | Merchant Marine | Oiler |
| Jones, Bert | Merchant Marine | Able Seaman |
| Kain, Walter Louis | USNR | Seaman First Class |
| Knell, James Sherwood | USNR | Seaman First Class |
| Luther, Joseph N. | Merchant Marine | Junior Engineer |
| Malone, Theron A. | Merchant Marine | Wiper |
| Mauldin, William F. | Merchant Marine | Messman |
| McFerrin, James Edwin | USN | Gunner's Mate Third Class |
| McGrath, Edward | Merchant Marine | Steward |
| McGrath, Howard Timothy | Merchant Marine | 19 Engineer Cadet |
| McMillan, Alvah D. | Merchant Marine | Able Seaman |
| Miles, James William | USNR | Seaman First Class |
| Munslow, Clifford V. | Merchant Marine | Able Seaman |
| Munson, Bernard | Merchant Marine | Third Mate |
| Norris, Glen Dale | USNR | Seaman First Class |
| Olsen, John H. | Merchant Marine | Second Mate |
| Pagel, William Harry | USN | Seaman First Class |
| Pandolfo, Rosario Dominic | USNR | Seaman First Class |
| Perry, Donald D. | USNR | Ensign |
| Petrikas, Joseph A. | Merchant Marine | Ordinary Seaman |
| Pfalzgraf, Harvey | Merchant Marine | Cook |
| Pullin, Clyde W. | Merchant Marine | Messman |
| Rowley, James V. | Merchant Marine | 20 Deck Cadet |
| Rozwadowski, Leon Paul | USNR | Seaman First Class |
| Schaaf, Elmer W. | Merchant Marine | Oiler |
| Senn, William G. | Merchant Marine | Steward |
| Signorelli, Charles | Merchant Marine | Radio Operator |
| Smith, Herman A. | Merchant Marine | Ordinary Seaman |
| St. Leger, Wilbert P. | Merchant Marine | Utility |
| Sullivan, Francis G. | Merchant Marine | Utility |
| Thibodeaux, Oze | USNR | Seaman First Class |
| Tucek, John Paul | Merchant Marine | 20 Deck Cadet |
| Tyson, Burnett F. | Merchant Marine | Ordinary Seaman |
| Wallum, Elmer George | USNR | Seaman First Class |
| Wengland, Ralph T. | Merchant Marine | First Assistant Engineer |
| Wilkinson, Clarence A. | USNR | Coxswain |
| Wooten, Carey Lavon | USNR | Seaman First Class |
| Wuolo, John F. | Merchant Marine | Chief Mate |
|
Sources
- ↑ Wrecksite - SS James Sprunt (+1943)
- ↑ RUSSIANS DRIVEN BACK 80 MILES, LOSE 8 DONETS BASIN KEY TOWNS (3/10/43); Microfilm-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 3/10/43 | Bertram D. Hulen, Ralph Parker, Arthur Krock; Posted on 3/10/2013, 6:54:38 AM by Homer_J_Simpson
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Anthony VanCampen
Anthony VanCampen
The Merchant Mariners got the Merchant Marine Medal (Image|file=Military_Medals-368.png |size=80px|caption=U.S. Merchant Marine Mariner's Medal) and the Merchant Marine Combat Bar Category:US Merchant Marine Combat Bar
posted
by Anthony VanCampen