File No. 43-8293
USNR No. 273598
CONFIDENTIAL
28 July 1944
From: Cadet-Midshipman James A. ATKINSON, First Class (D-1), USMMCC
To: Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadets Corps
Via: District cadet-Midshipman Supervisor, New York.
Subject: Loss of Vessel SS ESSO HARRISBURG; Report on
- The vessel to which the writer was assigned was proceeding from Cartagena, Columbia, S.A. to New York with a full cargo of crude oil. She was travelling alone and unescorted in a rough sea, although the weather was fair.
- On 6 July 1944, at 1940 ship’s time, while in a position about 83 miles N.W. of Aruba, the general alarm rang and the writer proceeded from his quarters and hurried to his gun station at the No. 5 20mm gun, assisting the gunner who had become rather excited in loading the gun. Shortly after arriving at his gun station, the subject vessel was hit by a torpedo directly of the propeller. Immediately all power from the engine room went off and the ship began to lose headway. Noticing that all the guns had been abandoned, the writer left his gun and proceeded to his boat station. The ship had begun to settle by the stern and all the boat crews were standing by waiting orders. The Captain did not sound “Abandon Ship” because he thought the vessel would not sink in spite of the fact that the ship had now lost all way and was dead in the water.
- The Chief Mate cast off the #2 raft and the Captain cast off the #1 raft. Orders were given to the writer’s boat to lower away and hold in alongside the sinking ship. This was impossible because of the heavy seas and although the writer’s boat nearly capsized, it was successfully launched and all the men on that side aboard the ship were taken off. The sea painter was cast off after passing the stern of the ship, four men were picked up from the water. Immediately following this, the subject vessel was hit by a second torpedo followed by a third one minute later. The subject vessel then sank almost immediately, leaving only the bow sticking out of the water. The writer’s boat had 15 men in her, and after floating for 4 days landed at Dubillo, Columbia on 10 July 1944.
James A. ATKINSON
C O N F I D E N T I A L 466 USMMCC File No. 43-8293
USNR File No. 273598
28 July 1944
From: Cadet-Midshipman James A. ATKINSON, First Class, (D-1), USMMCC
To: Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
Via: District Cadet-Midshipman Supervisorr, New York
Subject: SS ESSO HARRISBURG – loss of
- Subject vessel proceeded from Cartigena, Columbia, South America, to New York with a full cargo of crude oil, travelling alone and unescorted in rough sea, although the weather was fair.
- On 6 July 1944, at 1940, while in position about eighty three miles NW off Aruba, the general alarm rang. The writer proceeded from his quarters and hurried to his gun station at No. 5 20 MM gun where he assisted the gunner, who had become rather excited, in loading the gun. Shortly after, subject vessel was hit by a torpedo directly in the propeller. Immediately all power from the engine room went off and the ship began to lose headway. Noticing that all guns had been abandoned, the writer left his gun and proceeded to his boat station. The ship had begun to settle by the stern and all boat crews were standing awaiting orders. The Master did not sound “abandon ship”, believing the vessel would not sink despite the fact that the ship had now lost all was and was dead in the water.
- The Chief Mate cast off #2 raft and the Master cast off #1 raft. Orders were given to the writer’s boat crew to lower away and to hold alongside the sinking ship. This was impossible because of the heavy seas and although the boat nearly capsized, it was successfully launched and all men on that side of the ship were taken off. The sea painter was cast off and after passing the stern of the ship, four men were picked up from the water. Immediately following this, subject vessel was hit by a second torpedo followed by a third, one minute later. Subject vessel sank quickly, leaving only the bow sticking out of the water. The writer’s boat had fifteen men in her, and after floating four days landed in Dibullo, Columbia, 19 July, 1944.
Signed (James A. Atkinson)
Cadet-Midshipman James A. ATKINSON, First Class, (D-1), USMMCC
FIRST ENDORSMENT
28 July 1944
To: Supervisor, U. S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
!, Fowarded.
Signed (G.S. Findlay)
G.S. Findlay
Acting