SS San Jacinto (1903)

SS San Jacinto (ID-2586) was an American commercial passenger-cargo ship chartered by the United States Army for World War I service and considered for acquisition by the United States Navy as USS San Jacinto (ID-1531).

For United States Navy ships named San Jacinto, see USS San Jacinto.
SS San Jacinto in port. The fresh plating on her bow suggests that she had recently been repaired after her July 1918 collision with the U.S. Navy cargo ship USS Oosterdijk (ID-2586).
History
United States
Name: SS San Jacinto
Launched: 22 August 1903
Completed: 1903
Fate: Torpedoed April 22, 1942 by U-201
General characteristics
Type: Cargo ship
Tonnage: 6,069 GRT
Propulsion: Steam engine

San Jacinto was built by Delaware River Iron Ship Building and Engine Works in 1903 at Chester, Pennsylvania.[1] During the period the United States participated in World War I, she served under U.S. Army charter. Although the U.S. Navy considered acquiring San Jacinto and even assigned her the naval registry Identification Number (Id. No.) 1531, the Navy never took control of her, and she remained under Army control through the end of the war.

On either 9 July,[2] 10 July,[3] or 11 July 1918[4] San Jacinto collided with the U.S. Navy cargo ship USS Oosterdijk (ID-2586) in the North Atlantic Ocean. Both ships were seriously damaged and forced to turn about to steam for the nearest port. Despite the efforts of her crew to save her, Oosterdijk had to be abandoned on either 10 July 1918[5] or 11 July 1918[6] and sank at 15:30 hours that afternoon. San Jacinto carried Oosterdijk's crew members to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

San Jacinto was repaired and returned to service under Army charter for the remainder of the war.

Launch of steamship San Jacinto at Roach's Shipyard, Chester PA

Sinking

Om 21 April 1942 the San Jacinto was sighted by the German submarine U-201. On 22 April 1942, after around twelve hours of pursuit, U-201 fired a torpedo that struck the unarmed and unescorted ship at 03.29 hours. Of the eight officers, seventy-one crewmen, and one hundred-four passengers, fourteen were killed. The survivors, including 32 women and children, tied their life-rafts together and waited until daylight to radio for help. They were picked up by USS Rowan (DD-405).[7]

Notes
  1. "San Jacinto (ID 1531)". www.navsource.org. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  2. Per the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (at http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/o3/oosterdijk.htm)
  3. Per NavSource Online (at http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/172586.htm)
  4. Per the Naval Historical Center Online Library of Selected Images (at http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-o/id2586.htm)
  5. Per the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (at http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/o3/oosterdijk.htm) and NavSource Online (at http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/172586.htm)
  6. Per the Naval Historical Center Online Library of Selected Images (at http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-o/id2586.htm)
  7. uboat.net: SS San Jacinto (ID-2586)- Retrieved 2019-07-18

References
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