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S.S. Hoosier


Gross Tonnage:5,060Net:3,123
Dimensions:390.0 x 54.2 x 27.0MC Type:Hog Islander Type A, USSB EFC Design #1022
Builder:American International S.B. Corp.
Hog Island, PA
Hull #
USMC Hull #
Date of Build:
Delivered:
1532

1920
1920
Engines:DR Geared Steam TurbineEngine Builder:General Electric Co.
Schenectady, NY
Navigation:DF, ESDDecks, etc.:2 Decks, Fitted for Oil Fuel

Began SM Service:1941Ended SM Service:1942

----------------------------------- Vessel History -----------------------------------
Date
Vessel
#
Vessel
Name
Vessel
Owner
Call Ltrs
Home
Port
Flag
1920
220628
TomalvaU.S. Shipping Board
Allocated to:
Lykes Bros. Steamship Co. and American Diamond Line
MBLV
PhiladelphiaUS
1932
220628
Black EagleBlack Diamond Steamship Co.
New York
MBLV
New YorkUS
1941
220628
HoosierHoosier Marine Corp., New York (States Marine Corp., Managers)
KDFH
New YorkUS

Events:
1932: Sold to Black Diamond Steamship Co., renamed BLACK EAGLE.
1941: Sold to Hoosier Marine Corp., managed by States Marine Corp., renamed HOOSIER.

Disposition Date Comments
1942 7/9 - The HOOSIER sailed as part of Convoy PQ-17 from Philadelphia, PA to Archangel, USSR, via Reykjavik. After the convoy had dispersed, the vessel sailed in company with a small group of other escorts and merchantmen. The group was attacked by about 55 German bombers, with 16 or so bombs straddling the ship, exploding close aboard. The first stick of bombs did no damage. The second stick hit 5 feet from the boat deck and the third 20 yards away. These explosions damaged the steam pipes and oil lines, sprung some of the ship's hull plates and disabled the engines. The Master concluded the vessel could not be repaired and ordered the ship abandoned. The crew of 8 officers and 34 men, along with 11 armed guards, abandoned the ship in 4 lifeboats and boarded the corvette HMS POPPY (K-213). The commanding officer of the corvette HMS LA MALOUINE (K-46) decided to tow the freighter, putting a salvage crew aboard that included the ship's engineers. When lookouts spotted the U-255 4 miles astern, the corvette dropped the tow and recovered the boarding party. As the vessel slowly settled, the Poppy tried to sink her with gunfire but failed. The U-376 (Marks) later fired a coup de grace torpedo into the vessel, and she sank at 0105 on the 10th. All hands survived.

The information on this web site is the kind contribution of our Historian, Skip Lewis, © 2003. Skip, whose dad sailed for Isthmian, is an avid collector and researcher of everything Isthmian and States Marine. In his quest, he has used many sources and publications including Lloyd's of London and Imperial Steel by John Atherton.

If you have any questions about, or information for, this website, please contact us.

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