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SS Hoosier

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Coordinates: 69°45′N 39°35′E / 69.750°N 39.583°E / 69.750; 39.583
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History
United States
Name
  • Carlecay (1920)
  • Tomalva (1920–1932)
OwnerUnited States Shipping Board (USSB)
BuilderAmerican International Shipbuilding Corp., Hog Island, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Yard number1532
In service13 September 1920
Identification
FateSold, 1932
United States
NameBlack Eagle
OwnerBlack Diamond Lines, Inc.
FateSold, 1941
United States
NameHoosier
NamesakeHoosier
OwnerHoosier Marine Corp.
OperatorWar Shipping Administration (WSA)
FateSold, 20 December 1941
United States
NameHoosier
OwnerWar Shipping Administration (WSA)
OperatorStates Marine Corp.
Identification
  • Call sign: KDFH
FateSunk by German submarine U-376
General characteristics [1]
TypeDesign 1022 cargo ship
Tonnage
  • 5,036 GRT (1920-1934)
  • 5,060 GRT (1933-1942)
  • 3,101 NRT (1920-1934)
  • 3,123 NRT (1933-1942)
Length390 ft (120 m)
Beam54 ft 2 in (16.51 m)
Draft24 ft 4 in (7.42 m)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed10.9 knots (20.2 km/h; 12.5 mph)

Hoosier was a 5,060-gross register ton (GRT) Design 1022 cargo ship that was built in 1920, by American International Shipbuilding, Hog Island, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the United States Shipping Board (USSB).

Construction

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Laid down as Carlecay, she was completed as Tomalva. The ship was a Design 1022 cargo ship built in 1920, by American International Shipbuilding, Hog Island, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [2] She was yard number 1532.[3]

The ship was 390 ft (120 m) long, with a beam of 54 ft 2 in (16.51 m). She had a depth of 27 ft 8 in (8.43 m). She was assessed at 5,036 grt (14,260 m3).[3]

The ship was propelled by a double reduction geared steam turbine, driving a single screw propeller. The turbine was made by General Electric Co., Inc., Schenectady, New York.[4]

Ship history

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Tomalva was put into service on 13 September 1920. In 1932, she was sold to Black Diamond Lines, Inc., and renamed Black Eagle. He tonnage was increased to 5,060 GRT.[5]

In 1941, Black Eagle was sold to Hoosier Marine Corp., and renamed Hoosier.[6][5]

On 20 December 1941, Hoosier was purchased by the War Shipping Administration (WSA).[7][8]

On 27 June 1942, Hoosier departed Hvalfjordur, Iceland, enroute to Reykjavik and then Arkhangelsk, with convoy PQ-17. She was carrying 5,029 t (4,950 long tons; 5,544 short tons) of machinery and explosives, along with tanks on her deck.[5]

Sinking

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On 4 July 1942, while part of convoy PQ-17, she was ordered by the Admiralty to disperse while in the Barents Sea, due to the threat of the German battleship Tirpitz, sailing from Norway. Upon reaching Novaya Zemlya, she met up with five other merchant ships and eight escorts from the convoy, in the Matochkin Strait. Commodore John Dowding, the commander of convoy PQ-17, was able to assemble a small convoy and proceeded to sail for Murmansk and Archangel, on 7 July.[5][8]

The small convoy was attacked at 21:45, by Junkers Ju 88s from Kampfgeschwader 2 and 3, on July 9, 65 mi (105 km) north of Iokanka. The first run on Hoosier missed, but the second run landed 5 ft (1.5 m) from the boat deck, and the third run landed 60 ft (18 m) away. The explosions caused damage to steam pipes and oil lines, along with springing some hull plates and disabling the engines. With the ship disabled and taking on water, the order was given to abandon ship. At 00:30, Hoosier, which had sailed with eight officers, one radioman, and thirty-three Merchant Marines, along with her Armed Guard of one officer and ten sailors, climbed into the four lifeboats that she carried. HMS Poppy picked up the crew after 30 minutes, with no loss of life or injuries.[5][8]

The commander of HMS La Malouine (K46) attempted to tow Hoosier to port by embarking a salvage crew, which included Hoosier's engineers. U-255 was spotted four mi (6.4 km) astern of the corvette, so it was decided to release the tow line and disembark the salvage crew. Poppy then attempted to sink Hoosier with gunfire, but was unsuccessful.[5][8]

U-376 hit Hoosier with a torpedo at 02:56, on 10 July, but failed to sink the burning and drifting wreck. At 03:02, she again fired a torpedo, but this one missed. At 03:07, U-376 hit the engine room with a final torpedo and Hoosier sank by the bow.[5]

Wreck location: 69°45′N 39°35′E / 69.750°N 39.583°E / 69.750; 39.583[8]

References

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  1. ^ 1022.
  2. ^ Mitchell & Sawyer 1995.
  3. ^ a b SBH 2021.
  4. ^ Lloyds23.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Helgason.
  6. ^ Lloyds33.
  7. ^ Lloyds42.
  8. ^ a b c d e MARAD.

Bibliography

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  • "EFC Design 1022 (Standard Fabricated Hog Island Type A): Notes & Illustrations". Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  • Mitchell, W.H.; Sawyer, L.A. (1995). The Empire Ships. London, New York, Hamburg, Hong Kong: Lloyd's of London Press Ltd. p. not cited. ISBN 1-85044-275-4.
  • "American International Shipbuilding (AISC) Hog Island Shipyard, Philadelphia, PA". Shipbuilding History. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  • "Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1923 Steamers". Lloyd's. 1923. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  • Helgason, Guðmundur. "Hoosier". Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  • "Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1933 Steamers". Lloyd's. 1933. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  • "Lloyd's Register of Shipping 1942 Steamers". Lloyd's. 1942. Retrieved 6 August 2025.
  • Maritime Administration. "Hoosier". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration. Retrieved 6 August 2025.


Category:1920 ships Category:Hog Islanders Category:Steamships of the United States Category:Merchant ships of the United States Category:Shipwrecks in the Barents Sea Category:Maritime incidents in July 1942 Category:Ships sunk by German submarines in World War II

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