April 29, 1943.
CONFIDENTIAL
From: Cadet- Midshipman Warren II. Bates, Third Class, D-2, USMMCC
To: Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
Via: District Cadet Supervisor, New York.
Subject: Loss of SS BENJAMIN SMITH; Report on
- We loaded on general cargo for the U.S. Army and departed from Charleston, South Carolina, on November 16, proceeding in convoy to Trinidad. From there to Liberia and then alone towards our destination, which the writer has been informed was the Gold Coast of Africa.
- On January 23, while in the vicinity of Cape Palmas, at about 1400 while the weather was fine with a light swell, we were hit by three torpedoes. The first one struck in No. 1 hold, the second just at aft the engine room and the third torpedo causes the boilers to blow up, and it was, of course, imperative that we abandon ship.
- One of the lifeboats was damaged beyond use, but the other three were intact, and the ship was abandoned in orderly fashion. In these three boats and one of the life rafts which was used by some of the armed guard.
- While we were in the boats, we sighted a German submarine. It was too far away to observe it in daylight, but I did notice it carried two deck guns, one forward and one aft, and it appeared to be about 200 feet in length.
- When daylight broke, we took the men from the rafts into the lifeboats, and the three boats proceeded in company towards land, which we made on the Ivory Coast on January 24. The natives helped us the best they could, but their supplies were insufficient to take care of us also, so after a period of about ten days, we departed in boats and proceeded to another place on the Ivory Coast, Grand Lahou, where we were taken care of by the French. Eventually, we made our way to Takoradi on the Gold Coast and managed to get a plane to Miami, Florida. From there we returned to New York, more or less infected with malaria which I am confident we will manage to get cured.
Warren H. Bates
C O N F I D E N T I A L
Cadet File No: 43-573
USNR File No: 165227
From: Cadet-Midshipman Warren H. Bates, Second Class, D-1, USMMCC
To: Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
Via: District Cadet Supervisor, New York
Subject: SS Benjamin Smith – loss of
- Subject vessel loaded general cargo for the U.S. Army and sailed from Charleston, South Carolina, on November 16, 1942. Proceeding in convey to Trinidad, From there to Liberia and then alone towards vessel’s destination, which the writer has been informed was the Gold Coast of Africa.
- On January 23, 1943, while in vicinity of Cape Palmas, at about 1400, while the weather was fine with a light swell prevailing, ship was hit by three torpedoes. The first one struck in #1 hold, the second just aft the engine room and the third torpedo caused the boilers to blow up. It became imperative to abandon ship.
- One of the lifeboats was damaged beyond use, but the other three intact and the ship was abandoned in orderly fashion in the three boats and one of the life rafts which was used by members of the armed guard.
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Copies made 32
Distribution only as follows:
- Rear Admiral E.S. Land, USN (Ret.)
- Cap. Edward Macauley, USN (Ret.)
- Mr. Telfair Knight
- Capt. J.H. Tomb, USN (Ret.)
- Comdr. R.M. Shea, USNR
- Comdr. Patrick Brennan, USNR
- Comdr. A.O. Brady, USNR
- Lt. Comdr. H.R. McPhee, USNR
- Comdr. B.M. Dodson, USNR
- Capt. Giles C. Stedman, USNR
- Lt. Comdr. E.S. Hochuli, USNR
- Lt. Comdr. J. Powers, USNR
- Capt. Felix Johnson, USN
- Comdr. J.J. Tunney, USNR
- Lt. F. Riesenberg Jr., USMS
- Comdr. Paul S. Maguire, USNR
- Lt. J. Kelly, USMS
- Lt. Comdr. H.A. Burch, USNR
- Rear Admiral A.B. Randall, USNR
- Mr. J.C. Cutler, WSA
- Mr. Frank Rusk, WSA
- Mr. S.D. Schell, WSA
- Lt. Stanton H. Delaplane, USMS
- Lt. Stephen Manning, USMS
- Lt. M Breece, USNR
- Rear Admiral H. A. Wiley, USN (Ret.)
- Capt. R.R. McNulty, USNR
- Comdr. W.B. Tucker, USNR
- Comdr. G.E. Lindley, USNR
- Lt. Comdr. W.F. Thornton, USNR
- Lt. J.R. Sanders, USN
- Lt. Comdr. E. Waters, USNR
- While in the boats, sighted what writer believes was a German submarine. It was too far away to observe it in the darkness, but did say that it carried two deck guns, one forward and one aft, and it appeared to be about 200 feet in length.
- When daylight broke, took the men from the rafts into the lifeboats and the three boats proceeded in company towards land which was reached on the Ivory Coast on January 24, 1943. The natives helped us the best they could, but their supplies were insufficient to take care of the crew, so after a period of about 10 days, departed in boats and proceeded to another place on the Ivory Coast called Grand Lahou, where crew was taken care of by French inhabitants. Eventually made way to Takoradi on the Gold Coast and managed to get a plane to Miami, Florida. From there the crew, many of whom became infected with malaria returned to New York.
Signed (Warren H. Bates)
Cadet-Midshipman Warren H. Bates, Second Class, D-1, USMMCC
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FIRST ENDORSEMENT April 29, 1943
From: District Cadet Supervisor, New York
To: Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
- Forwarded,
Signed (C.P. Jensen)
Lt. Comdr. C.P. Jensen, USNR
By direction