ear-broughton

TRAINING ORGANIZATION
U.S. MERCHANT MARINE CADET CORPS
30 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, 6, N.Y.

July 2, 1943.

CONFIDENTIAL

From:              Cadet-Midshipman James C. BROUGHTON, Third Class, (E-2), USMMCC
To:                  Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
Via:                  District Cadet Supervisor, New York.
Subject:           Loss of vessel MV FLORIDA; Report on

  1. The vessel to which the writer was assigned had discharged its cargo at Natal, Brazil and was proceeding for an unknown port in the West Indies. She joined a convoy about 0030, May 27, 1943 off the coast of Brazil. The convoy consisted of about twelve merchant vessels, escorted by one destroyer, one P.C. boat, one corvette and two other ships of a type unknown to the writer.
  2. At approximately 2348, May 27th, the ship was hit by a torpedo, while sailing off the coast of Ceara, Brazil, about 50 miles off shore. The ship did not sink, but immediately following the torpedoing the stern began to settle rather rapidly, and the Master gave the order to abandon ship. This order was obeyed, and the abandoning of the ship was carried out in good order. All the lifeboats, with the exception of the #4 boat, which was swamped, were successfully lowered. All hands were able to get off the ship, and only minor injuries were sustained by members of the ship’s crew.
  3. No signs of enemy craft were seen by anyone aboard the ship. An unconfirmed report the writer heard was that the crew of the 3 inch gun on the bow of the MV FLORIDA fired one round at “something in the dark” and later the members of the crew of the U.S. Navy corvette claimed that they were nearly hit by a shell.
  4. Following the torpedoing, when it was evident that our ship would not sink, a salvage crew was put aboard the ship to salvage whatever was usable. The ship was bent at about  a 22 degree angle aft of the midship house, and was taken in tow by a U.S.N. corvette and brought to the port of Fortaliza, Ceara, Brazil in order that a survey of the damage could be made. The FLORIDA was towed inside the breakwater, and a diver was sent down to make the inspection. He had learned that the ship had been hit well aft on the starboard side in the vicinity of the propeller. The tail shaft was broken off, and a hole sixteen feet by six feet (16’ X 6’) had been blown in the ship. However, it was determined that the ship could be repaired and put into service again. Consequently, after emergency repairs are made, she is to be towed to the United States for completion.
  5. The writer was the only Cadet-Midshipman aboard this vessel, and he arrived in New York on July 1st.

                                   277                                                                            July 2 1943

CONFIDENTIAL
Cadet File No: 43-3412
USNR File No: 232622

From:              Cadet-Midshipman James C. BROUGHTON, Third Class, (E-2), USMMCC
To:                  Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps
Via:                  District Cadet Supervisor, New York.

Subject:           MV FLORIDA – loss of

  1. The vessel to which the writer was assigned had discharged its cargo at Natal, Brazil and was proceeding for an unknown port in the West Indies. Vessel joined a convoy about 0030, May 27, 1943 off the coast of Brazil. The convoy consisted of about twelve merchant vessels, escorted by one destroyer, one P.C. boat, one corvette and two other ships of a type unknown to the writer.
  2. At approximately 2348, May 27th, the ship was hit by a torpedo, while off the coast of Ceara, Brazil, about 50 miles off the coast of Ceara Brazil. The ship did not sink, but immediately following the torpedoing the stern began to settle rather rapidly, and the Master gave the order to abandon ship. This order was obeyed, and the abandoning of the ship was carried out in good order. All the lifeboats, with the exception of the #4 boat, which was swamped, were successfully lowered. All hands were able to get off the ship, and only minor injuries were sustained by members of the ship’s crew.
  3. No signs of enemy craft were seen by anyone aboard the ship. The writer heard an
  4. unconfirmed report that the crew of the 3 inch gun on the bow of the MV FLORIDA fired one round at “something in the dark” and later the members of the crew of the U.S. Navy corvette claimed that they were nearly hit by the shell.
  5. Following the torpedoing, when it was evident that our ship would not sink, a salvage crew was put aboard the ship to salvage whatever was usable. The ship sagged at about  a 22 degree angle aft of the midship house, and was taken in tow by a U.S.N. corvette and brought to the port of Fortaliza, Ceara, Brazil in order that a survey of the damage could be made. The FLORIDA was towed inside the breakwater, and a diver was sent down to make the inspection. He had learned that the ship had been hit well aft on the starboard side in the vicinity of the propeller. The tail shaft was broken off, and a hole sixteen feet by six feet (16’ X 6’) had been blown in the ship. However, it was determined that the ship could be repaired and put into service again. Consequently, after emergency repairs are made, the vessel is to be towed to the United States for completion of necessary work.
  6. The writer was the only Cadet-Midshipman aboard this vessel. He arrived in New York on July 1, 1943.

Signed (James C. Broughton)             

Cadet-Midshipman James C. BROUGHTON, Third Clas, (E-2), USMMCC

FIRST ENDORSEMENT

From:                          District Cadet Supervisor, New York
To:                              Supervisor, U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corps

  1. Forwarded.

P. BRENNAN

Signed (C. P. Jensen)

C. P Jensen

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