Steel Worker

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john sefton
Posts: 1816
Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2009 1:59 pm

Steel Worker

Post by john sefton » Fri Nov 06, 2009 5:14 pm

STEEL WORKER. Cargo ship. United States Steel Products Co., built 1920 by Federal Shipbuilding Corp. Kearny, N.J. 5687 tons, length 424.2ft., beam 56.2ft. Steam turbines, fitted for oil fuel, later taken over by Isthmian Steamship Co, New York. Sunk by enemy action in N.E. Atlantic June 3rd. 1942, (Ship in far back-ground).
Log Book Sept 1986
Canal Zone 1939. 5c SG 152.
Attachments
SG152
SG152

aukepalmhof
Posts: 7796
Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

Re: Steel Worker

Post by aukepalmhof » Sat Nov 07, 2009 8:16 pm

Built as a cargo vessel under yard No. 36 by Federal Shipbuilding Co., Kearny, NJ for U.S. Steel Products Co. Inc., New York.
Launched under the name STEEL WORKER.
Tonnage 5.686 gross, 3.450 net, 9.200 dwt, dim.129.29 (bpp) x 17.12 x 8.69m.
Powered by two steam turbines, oil fired, geared to one shaft, manufactured by W&A Fletcher Co., Hoboken, NJ., ?hp, speed 10.5 knots.
July 1920 delivered.

1931 Transferred to the Isthmian SS Co. Inc., New York.

21 May 1942 the STEEL WORKER under command of Capt. William E. Green and a crew of 38 sailed in convoy PQ 16, (the largest convoy to Russia to date) and arrived safely in Murmansk on 30 May 1942.
Original she was coming from Philadelphia where she had loaded military and general stores for Russia.
After she had discharged 375 tons of ammunition on the ammunition dock, she was shifted from that dock on 03 June at 08.00 pm to the anchorage in the Kola Inlet.
During the passage she hit most probably a mine which exploded under hatch No 4. She settled on even keel before breaking in two and sinking 45 minutes later with on board still 7.250 tons army equipment.
The crew abandoned ship in four lifeboats and were rescued by other ships nearby.

The ship nearest is the ANDREA F LUCKENBACH see http://www.shipstamps.co.uk/forum/viewt ... bach#p9975
Source: Register of Merchant Ships completed in 1920. Convoys to Russia 1941-1945 by Bob Ruegg & Arnold Hague. http://www.isthmianlines.com/sa_steel_worker.html

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