SS OHIO Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...
Career
Ordered:
Laid down:	7 September 1939
Launched:	April 20, 1940
Commissioned in the British Merchant Navy:	10 July 1942
Decommissioned:	15 August 1945
Fate:	Towed and used for naval gunfire practice on September 19th 1946
General Characteristics
Displacement:	9263 tons
Length:	515 ft
Cargo:	170,000 barrels of oil
Owner:	Texas Oil Company, registered to the British Eagle Oil Company preceding Operation Pedestal.
Speed:	16 knots (30 km/h) (Sea trials showed the Ohio could manage even 19 knots)
Complement:	77 men, 24 to service the guns.
Armament:	1 5-inch AA-gun (aft) 1 3-inch AA-gun (bows) 1 40mm army Bofors abaft the funnel 6 20mm naval Oerlikons

The SS Ohio was an oil tanker. When built for the Texas Oil Company (now Texaco), she was the largest oil tanker in the world. She was launched on April 20, 1940 at Sun Shipbuilding Yard in Chester, Pennsylvania, USA. SS Ohio was capable of doing over 16 knots (30 km/h) at sea. No one could have guessed at the tanker's launch that the ship, built for the tanker fleet of Texaco, would end up bound in the struggle of the Second World War, and no one would have understood at the time the important role the Ohio would have in supporting the beleaguered^[1] island of Malta, surviving Operation Pedestal, one of the fiercest^[2] and most heavily contested convoys in August 1942. Image File history File links Civil_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... September 7 is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years). ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full year calendar). ... April 20 is the 110th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (111th in leap years). ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... The British Red Ensign. ... July 10 is the 191st day (192nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 174 days remaining. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday. ... September 19 is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years). ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... The HMS Eagle, sunk by the German submarine U-73 Operation Pedestal was a British operation to get vital supplies to the island of Malta in August 1942, during World War II and the height of the Axis siege of Malta. ... Bofors is an iron works, cannon maker, and defence industry located in Karlskoga, Sweden. ... Oerlikon may refer to: Zürich Oerlikon, a quarter in the northern part of Zürich, Switzerland Oerlikon-Bührle, a company in Zürich, Switzerland that owns Bally Shoe, Oerlikon Contraves, Pilatus Aircraft and Island Aircraft Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon, the Oerlikon subsidiary later became Oerlikon-Bührle, and is now... A tanker is usually a vehicle carrying large amounts of liquid fuel. ... Texaco is the name of an American oil company that was merged into Chevron Corporation in 2001. ... April 20 is the 110th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (111th in leap years). ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Chester is a city in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, population 36,854 at the 2000 census. ... A knot is a unit of speed abbreviated kt or kn. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... The HMS Eagle, sunk by the German submarine U-73 Operation Pedestal was a British operation to get vital supplies to the island of Malta in August 1942, during World War II and the height of the Axis siege of Malta. ... The Malta Convoys were a series of supply convoys to sustain the Mediterranean island of Malta during World War 2. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ...

Construction and Launch

Hull 190, as the Ohio was referred to before its launch, was a skillful compromise, promising broad cargo-carrying capacity to the merchant and speed, balance of stability to the mariner. Above the waterline, the construction echoed the outwards curve of a schooner bow, bearing the influence of the old American clipper ship design. The design of Hull 190 was influenced also by the menace of a rearming Germany and a Japanese Empire bent on military expansion. The approach of war had influenced this design, the unofficial conversations between military and oil chiefs resulted in a ship of 9,263 tons, 515 feet in overall length, and capable of carrying 170,000 barrels of fuel oil, bigger and with a larger capacity than any other tanker built before in the world. The ship was completed in an unusually short period of seven months, fifteen days.^[3] This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Two-masted fishing schooner A schooner (IPA: ) is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts. ... A model of a vessel of the clipper type, the four-masted barque named Belle Étoile A clipper was a very fast multiple-masted sailing ship of the 19th century. ... His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Akihito of Japan The Emperor of Japan (天皇, tennō) is Japans titular head of state and the head of the Japanese imperial family. ... This article is about a foot as a unit of length. ... Barrel can refer to: Barrels for storage. ... An oil tanker taking on bunker fuel. ...

The Westinghouse turbine engines developed 9000 shaft horsepower at ninety revolutions per minute, which allowed a calculated drive of sixteen knots, a speed never attained before by any screw tanker. Her method of construction was controversial. For some years, the issue between welding versus riveting had been raging on both sides of the Atlantic. Hull 190 was built in the bottom shell and deck of the new-fashioned welded construction, hopefully to seal once and for all the reliability of this method.^[4] The ship had also a composite framing system with two longitudinally continuous bulkheads, which divided the ship into twenty-one cargo tanks. The name Westinghouse can refer to any number of devices and independent businesses that can trace their roots to the work of George Westinghouse: // People George Westinghouse, founder of Westinghouse Electric Corporation Devices Westinghouse air brake. ... A Siemens steam turbine with the case opened. ... An engine is something that produces an effect from a given input. ... A shaft can be Look up shaft in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... hp, see HP (disambiguation) The horsepower (hp) is the name of several non-metric units of power. ... Revolutions per minute (abbreviated rpm, RPM, r/min, or min-1) is a unit of frequency, commonly used to measure rotational speed, in particular in the case of rotation around a fixed axis. ... 16 (sixteen) is the natural number following 15 and preceding 17. ... Some knots: 1. ... Screws come in a variety of shapes and sizes for different purposes. ... Tanker - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The Atlantic Ocean is Earths second-largest ocean, covering approximately one_fifth of its surface. ... Bulkhead may refer to the following: Bulkhead (partition), a wall within the hull of a ship, vehicle or container Bulkhead (barrier) Bulkhead line See also: Flatcar Bulkhead Category: ...

The ship was launched the day after schedule, prompting superstition in the welders, steel-cutters and other craftsmen that had assembled to watch her launch. Hull 190 was christened in a ceremony presided over by the mother of the President of the Texas Oil Company, Mrs. Florence E. Rodgers who, grasping the ceremonial bottle of champagne in her right hand pronounced the words: The number 13 is often avoided in public buildings, also floors, doors and this Santa Anita Park horse stall. ... Welding is a fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by causing coalescence. ... Texaco was the name of an American oil company that was merged into Chevron Corporation in 2001. ... Champagne is often consumed as part of a celebration Champagne is a sparkling wine produced by inducing the in-bottle secondary fermentation of wine to effect carbonation. ...

' I name this good ship Ohio. May God go with her and all who sail in her. Good luck...' ^[5]

As the ship rolled down Slipway No.2, the Ohio plunged in the waters of the Delaware river. Few would consider at this moment that the Ohio would be the ship that staved surrender of an obscure island in the Mediterranean, more so considering that the existence of the Ohio would, in its initial years, be uneventful and ordinary, plying between Port Arthur and various American ports; except that the ship once set a speed record from Bayonne to Port Arthur covering 1,882 miles in four days, twelve hours, an average of more than seventeen knots. ^[6] For the Delaware River in Kansas, see Delaware River (Kansas) The Delaware River is a river on the Atlantic coast of the United States. ... Port Arthur is the name of some places: Port Arthur, Tasmania, Australia Old Western name for Lushun, China Port Arthur, Texas, United States of America Port Arthur, Ontario, a city in Ontario, Canada, became part of Thunder Bay in 1970. ... Seal of Bayonne Bayonne is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. ...

Malta, Pedestal Planned and the Ohio

Great Britain was at this stage, waging an active war in the Mediterranean, against the Italian forces in North Africa and Rommel's Afrika Korps. Critical to this theatre of operations was the island of Malta, sitting in the middle of Axis supply lines, capable of causing sever shortages to the German and Italian Armies in North Africa, if properly supplied with munitions, aircraft and fuel. Munitions and aircraft were, to a large extent, available to the island. In fact, British forces took advantage of a short lull in the heavy and continuous Axis attacks to fly in sixty-one Spitfire Mk V aircraft from HMS Furious, which immediately improved the aerial defensive situation. However, food, ammunition, and aviation fuel remained critically short in supply. Successive attempts to try and resupply the islands proved to be a failure, in fact previous convoys such as Harpoon (from Gibraltar) and Vigorous (from Alexandria, Egypt) had had most of their merchantmen sunk and their escorts damaged.^[7]  Northern Africa (UN subregion)  geographic North Africa, including the UN subregion North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, generally divided politically from Sub-Saharan Africa. ... The seal of Afrikakorps The German Afrika Korps (German: Deutsches Afrikakorps, DAK  ) was the corps-level headquarters controlling the German Panzer divisions in Libya and Egypt during the North African Campaign of World War II. Since there was little turnover in the units attached to the corps, the term is... The Supermarine Spitfire was an iconic British single-seat fighter used primarily by the RAF and many Allied countries through the Second World War and into the 1950s. ... Five vessels of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Furious: Furious, launched 1797, was a 12-gun gunvessel. ... In World War II, Operation Harpoon was one of two simultaneous Allied convoys sent to supply Malta in the Axis-dominated Mediterranean Sea in mid-June 1942. ... Operation Vigorous was a World War II operation to deliver a supply convoy (MW-11) that sailed from Haifa and Port Said on the 12th June 1942 to Malta. ... Alexandria (Greek: , Coptic: , Arabic: , Egyptian Arabic: Iskindireyya), (population of 3. ...

On June 18th, the Commander in Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet cabled the Prime Minister, expressing doubts on the possibility of attempting another convoy run after the disastrous failure of 'Harpoon-Vigorous'^[8] . Three days later, the Ohio steamed into the mouth of the Clyde, under the command of Sverre Petersen, a former Master-in-Sail from Oslo, in Norway. One day, in early May 1942, a radio message had reached Captain Petersen which diverted the ship to Galveston, Texas, and then ordered the tanker to proceed to Britain. Before leaving for Britain, the Ohio was fitted with one 5-inch AA-gun in its aft, and a 3-inch AA-gun in the bows. Then she moved to Sinclair Terminal, Houston, Texas, where the ship loaded a full cargo of 103,576 barrels of petrol, finally sailing on May 25th. Ohio discharged her cargo at Bowling-on-the-Clyde, and then steamed out into the tideway and anchored, awaiting orders.^[9] June 18 is the 169th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (170th in leap years), with 196 days remaining. ... Clyde may refer to: The River Clyde and Firth of Clyde in Scotland. ... County Oslo NO-03 District Viken Municipality NO-0301 Administrative centre Oslo Mayor (2004) Per Ditlev-Simonsen (H) Official language form BokmÃ¥l Area  - Total  - Land  - Percentage Ranked 224 454 km² 426 km² 0. ... 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ... Galveston redirects here. ... Official language(s) No Official Language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Houston redirects here. ... Official language(s) No Official Language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Gasoline, as it is known in North America, or petrol, in many Commonwealth countries (sometimes also called motor spirit) is a petroleum-derived liquid mixture consisting primarily of hydrocarbons, used as fuel in internal combustion engines. ... May 25 is the 145th day of the year (146th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Bowling is a village in West Dunbartonshire in Scotland. ... Downstream from Teddington Lock, the Thames is subject to tides and is known as the Tideway. This stretch of the Thames is just under 160 km long. ...

Here the Captain received a letter from Lord Leathers, the head of the British Ministry of War Transport, bidding the master a personal welcome "...at your safe arrival in the Clyde with the first cargo of oil carried in a United States tanker." A series of events were to change the euphoria into resentment and anger. A telegram was received the same day by the head office of Texaco, from the War Shipping Administration, announcing simply that the Ohio was being requisitioned 'pursuant to the law' . The immediate reaction was a cabled message from Mr. T.E. Buchanan, General Manager of Texaco's Marine Department to the firm's London agent, that on no account was Ohio to leave her discharging port of Bowling-on-the-Clyde. A period of indecision, meetings and debates between the highest Americans authorities and their British counterparts soon ensued. The master was told that further orders would arrive soon afterwards, however the decision was finally taken two weeks later, when a launch sped out to the ship anchored in the Clyde and Texaco's London agent, accompanied by an official of the British Ministry of War Shipping came over the side. Here they met the Captain, who was informed that the ship was to be confiscated and handed over to a British crew. The crew and the captain were exasperated by the seemingly outrageous order, but had no other option but to give in, and started to pack they kit whilst English seamen started to take over the ship.^[10] Frederick James Leathers, 1st Viscount Leathers CH PC (21 November 1883 – 19 March 1965) was a British industrialist and public servant. ... The Secretary of State for Transport is the member of the cabinet responsible for the British Department for Transport. ... The War Shipping Administration was established by the United States President with Executive Order No. ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: Lend-Lease This article is about the World War II program. ... The War Shipping Administration was established by the United States President with Executive Order No. ... This article is about a military rank. ...

Finally, on July 10th, Captain Petersen handed over the ship. There was no formal ceremony, and little goodwill. The American flag was run down, and Ohio henceforward sailed under the Red Duster. Overnight she was transferred from American to British registry. For convenience in management, Ohio was handed over on July 25th to the British Eagle Oil and Shipping Company., which was warned of the importance of the impending convoy and that "...much might depend on the quality and courage of the crew."^[11] July 10 is the 191st day (192nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 174 days remaining. ... Flag ratio: 7:12; nicknames: Stars and Stripes, Old Glory The flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars... The Red Ensign, as currently used by the United Kingdoms Merchant Navy The Red Ensign is a flag that originated in the early 1600s as an ensign flown by the Royal Navy. ... July 25 is the 206th day (207th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 159 days remaining. ...

As the British Eagle Oil crew started to assemble, it became obvious that there was a large convoy being planned. Command of the ship passed to Captain Dudley W. Mason, who at thirty-nine had already held other commands, while James Wyld was to be Chief Engineer. Forty-eight hours after Ohio had been transferred to British registry, her crew was completed. The ship's company numbered seventy-seven, and it included no fewer than twenty-four naval and army ratings to serve the guns. The ship was then moved to King George's Dock, and the Oerlikon and Bofors armament was placed aboard and fitted. Dudley William Mason was the captain of the tanker SS Ohio during the World War II operation codenamed Operation Pedestal, which was a convoy intended to relieve the island of Malta. ... The Chief Engineer on a merchant vessel is the official title of someone qualified to oversee the entire engine department; the qualification is colloquially called a Chiefs Ticket. The Chief Engineer commonly referred to as The Chief or just Chief is responsible for all operations and maintenance that has... Oerlikon has different meanings: Zürich Oerlikon: a quarter in the northern part of Zürich, Switzerland Oerlikon-Bührle: a company in Zürich, Switzerland that also owns Bally Shoes, Oerlikon Contraves, Pilatus Aircraft and Island Aircraft Oerlikon Contraves: a Swiss anti-aircraft artillery manufacturer founded in Zürich... Bofors is an iron works, cannon maker, and defence industry located in Karlskoga, Sweden. ...

Ohio and Pedestal

Main article: Operation Pedestal

After the disastrous failure of the mid-June convoy, it was questioned if Malta could hold out on the meagre supplies rescued from 'Harpoon-Vigorous', until another convoy could be organized. Running a convoy in the brilliance of a Mediterranean moonlit period was to court inevitable disaster, and this limited operations in the immediate future to the moonless period in July or August between the 10th and 16th of those months. July was out of the question, since the tanker Ohio could not be fitted out in time. Once the due planning had been made it was decided to begin the operation in August. Ohio sailed down to Dunglass in the Clyde and loaded 11,500 tons of kerosene and diesel fuel oils. She was the only ship carrying these supplies which were so vital to the survival of Malta. Before she sailed, however, special strengthening was given to the tanker to protect her against the shock of bombs exploding near her. In the previous convoy, the tanker Kentucky had been sunk with only a few hours' repair work needed on a steam-pipe, which had been broken by the force of such explosions. The Ministry was determined that this should not happen again, and so the Ohio's engines were mounted on rubber bearings, to reduce shock, and all steam-pipes were supported with steel springs and baulks of timber. While the merchant ships were gathering in the Clyde, the naval forces had already reached Scapa Flow. Admiral Syfret joined HMS Nelson there on July 27th and held a convoy conference on August 2nd, the same day all leave had been stopped. At eight o'clock that evening, two hours before dusk, the convoy sailed. The fourteen ships, led by HMS Nigeria formed up, it was dark by the time they reached the open sea.^[12] The HMS Eagle, sunk by the German submarine U-73 Operation Pedestal was a British operation to get vital supplies to the island of Malta in August 1942, during World War II and the height of the Axis siege of Malta. ... June is the sixth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with a length of 30 days. ... A convoy is a group of vehicles traveling together for mutual support. ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see August (disambiguation). ... Dunglass is a location in East Lothian, Scotland. ... Kerosene or paraffin oil (British English, not to be confused with the waxy solid also called paraffin wax or just paraffin) is a colorless flammable hydrocarbon liquid. ... Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel (1858-1913), inventor of the diesel engine. ... An oil tanker taking on bunker fuel. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into articles entitled steam and water vapor, accessible from a disambiguation page. ... Cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship that carries goods and materials from one port to another. ... Aerial Photo of Scapa Flow Scapa Flow is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, sheltered by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy. ... HMS Nelson was an ironclad battleship of the Royal Navy. ... July 27 is the 208th day (209th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 157 days remaining. ... August 2 is the 214th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (215th in leap years), with 151 days remaining. ...

The Convoy entered Gibraltar in heavy fog on August 10th. The day after, four torpedoes from German U-73 sink the aircraft-carrier HMS Eagle, killing two-hundred-and-sixty men, and losing all but four planes. On this day, German bombers attacked the convoy. ^[13]On August 12th twenty Junkers 88s attacked the convoy,while a further combined strike by one-hundred German and Italian planes attacked the merchantmen. It was during the ensuing mayhem that the tanker was torpedoed by the Italian submarine Axum ^[14] and catches fire. The Ohio was torpedoed amidships, were a huge pillar of flame leapt high in the air above mast height. Ohio seemed to be out of control; Captain Mason ordered the engines to be shut down, with all deckhands available putting out the fire with the deck water-lines. Lighted kerosene was bubbling up from the fractured tanks, while little gouts of flame spattered the deck on to a distance of thirty yards from the blaze. Fortunately however, the flames were put out and the tanker managed thirteen knots after being repaired.The blast destroyed the ship's gyro and brought the magnetic compass off its bearings, while the steering gear was lost, forcing the crew to steer with the emergency gear from aft. ^[15] August 10 is the 222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... About fifteen ships of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Eagle, after the eagle. ... This or section does not cite its references or sources. ... August 12 is the 224th day of the year (225th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Junkers Ju 88 was a WW2 Luftwaffe twin-engine multi-role aircraft. ... Insignia applied with a decal on the tail of the Règia Aeronautica aircraft (reconstruction). ... Italian submarine Axum was an Italian 600-Serie Adua class submarine, serving the Regia Marina during World War II. It was named after holy city in Ethiopia. ...

The SS Ohio hit by a torpedo

A hole, twenty-four feet by twenty-seven feet, had been torn in the port side of the amidships pump-room. The blast had also blown another hole in the starboard side and the compartment was flooded. There were jagged tears in the bulkheads and kerosene was bubbling up from adjoining tanks, seeping in a film up through the holes in the hull. The deck had been broken open, so that one could look down into the ship. From beam to beam the deck was buckled, but the ship held together. Another sixty Stuka dive bombers attack the convoy, focusing on Ohio. ^[16] A series of near misses ensued as the tanker approached the island of Pantelleria. Bombs sprayed the decks of the tanker, while aircraft machine-gunned the deck. One exceptional near miss occurred when a bomb buckled the tanker's plates and the forward tank filled with water. The six-inch gun at the bows twisted in its mountings and was put out of action. A formation of five Junkers 88 was broken up by the tanker's anti-aircraft, with the bombs falling harmlessly in the sea. Another plane, this time a Junkers 87 is downed by an Ohio gunman, however the plane crashes straight into Ohio's starboard side, forward of the upper bridge, and exploded. Half a wing slammed into the upper work of the bridge and a rain of aircraft parts showered the tanker from stem to stern. The bomb of the plane fortunately failed to explode.^[17] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Junkers Ju 87 Dive-Bombers The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was the most famous Sturzkampfflugzeug (German dive bomber) in World War II, instantly recognisable by its inverted gull-wings and fixed undercarriage. ... Country Italy Region Sicily Province Trapani (TP) Mayor Salvatore Gabriele (since May 17, 2005) Elevation 5 m Area 83 km² Population  - Total (as of December 31, 2004) 7,679  - Density 73/km² Time zone CET, UTC+1 Coordinates Gentilic Panteschi Dialing code 0923 Postal code 91017 Patron St. ... A . ... Look up deck in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article is about the military unit. ... The Junkers Ju 88 was a WW2 Luftwaffe twin-engine multi-role aircraft. ... Nazi propaganda image Air victory over Poland with an artistic vision of a Junkers Ju 87. ... A view of the Starboard side of the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Ross Starboard is the nautical term that refers to the right side of a vessel as perceived by a person on board the ship and facing the bow (front). ...

The Ohio being nursed by a flottila of destroyers and minesweepers

As the ship turned slowly to comb torpedoes, two sticks of bombs fell on either side of the tanker. The ship lifted, and went on lifting until she was clean out of the water. Cascades of water spray and bomb splinters lashed the deck, and finally she fell back with a back-breaking crash. Fortunately, the Ohio had a special differential gearing which slowed the propeller automatically; on other ships, the same effect would have shaken the engines out of their rooms.Continuously bombed, the tanker kept on steaming until a gigantic crash to starboard sent her reeling to port. The engine-room lights went out, and they were in darkness. The master switches had been thrown off by the force of the explosion, and they were quickly switched on by an electrician. This time, the ship had not escaped damage. The boiler fires were blown out, and it was a race against time to restore them before the steam dropped too low to work the fuel pumps. The engineers, lighted the fire starter torches to restart the furnaces. ^[18]The complicated routine of restarting went forward smoothly and within twenty minutes, the Ohio was steaming at sixteen knots again. Then another salvo of bombs hit the ship, shaking every plate, and once more the engines slowed and stopped. The electric fuel pumps had been broken by the concussion. Desperately trying to reconnect the electrical wires, and restart the engines via the auxiliary steam system the engine-room was filled with black smoke until the engines were properly re-lit. The ship was making alternate black and white smoke, and with oil in water pipes and a loss of vacuum in the condenser (steam turbine) the Ohio started to lose way slowly, coming to a stop, a sitting duck, at 10.50 AM. The crew abandoned the ship, boarding the HMS Penn, that had arrived to Ohio's aid alongside another destroyer, HMS Ledbury, which was however soon to leave the stricken tanker after being ordered to go in search of the cruiser^[19] HMS Manchester, thought crippled but actually sunk by Italian motor torpedo boats. ^[20] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A modern torpedo, historically called a locomotive torpedo, is a self-propelled projectile that (after being launched above or below the water surface) operates underwater and is designed to detonate on contact or in proximity to a target. ... An electrician hooking up a generator to a homes electrical panel. ... A boiler is a closed vessel in which water or other fluid is heated under pressure. ... Look up Vacuum in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Condenser refers here to the shell and tube heat exchanger installed at the outlet of every steam turbine in Thermal power stations of utility companies generally. ... Sitting Ducks is a Universal Studios cartoon that premiered in Europe in September 2001. ... The 12-hour clock is a timekeeping convention in which the 24 hours of the day are divided into two periods called ante meridiem (AM, Latin for before noon) and post meridiem (PM, Latin for after noon). Each period consists of 12 hours numbered 12, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5... HMS Penn was laid down on 26 December 1939 by Vickers Armstrong and launched on 12 February 1941. ... Two ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Ledbury, named after Ledbury, Herefordshire: The first Ledbury, launched in 1940 was a Hunt-class destroyer that served in World War II and was sold for scrap in 1958. ... There have been three warships to bear the name HMS Manchester in the Royal Navy from a small stores ship in the early 1800s to todays modern Type 42 destroyer. ...

The Penn's Commander, J.H. Swain, RN, suggested to Captain Mason to tow the tanker with a heavy ten-inch manilla rope. With the tow line in place, HMS Penn towed the tanker, straining its engines to the limit, however the Ohio continued to list to port; the ships were not doing any progress, and where in fact drifting backwards due to the easterly wind. Now both ships were sitting ducks, and as another serious attack developed the destroyer went to full speed to part the tow, snapping the manilla rope in frayed ends. A bomber came down the tanker and was shot down by the Ohio 's gunners, but just before exploding the German airmen had released their cargo.^[21] A bomb hit the tanker just were the initial torpedo had hit her, effectively breaking her back, just as night was setting in. The ship was abandoned for the night. The day after, HMS Penn was joined by the minesweeper HMS Rye. The two ships towed the tanker and succeeded in gaining a speed between four and five knots, overcoming the tendency to swing to port. However, another attack blasted the group of ships, snapping the towing lines and immobilizing the Ohio's rudder. Another bomb hit the fore-end of the front deck, forcing the engineers out of the engine room. Once more, Mason gave the order to abandon ships, as two more air attacks narrowly missed the tanker. A superficial examination showed that the rent that had developed in the amidships section had widened and that the ship had almost certainly broke her back. ^[22] Manilla is the name of several places around the world: Manilla, New South Wales, Australia Manilla, Iowa, United States Manilla is the name of the bracelet currency of West Africa: see the webpage at [1]. There are also several places named Manila (with one l), of which Manila, the capital... Sitting Ducks is a Universal Studios cartoon that premiered in Europe in September 2001. ... HMS Rye was a Bangor class minesweeper that saw service in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. ...

The destroyers on either side of the stricken tanker

The two ships around the tanker were joined by the HMS Bramham and by HMS Ledbury, returning from her search for the Manchester. Meanwhile Rye had again begun to tow Ohio with the newly arrived Ledbury acting as a stern tug. With less pull from Ledbury, a fair speed was maintained, but steering proved impossible. A stabilizing factor was needed, and this Commander Swain edged Penn to the starboard side of Ohio. Rye, joined by the Bramham slowly got under way again, with the Ledbury acting as a rudder. Another Axis air attack started just as the group of ships was heaving at six knots. At 10.45 AM the first wave of dive bombers came streaking over the water. Only one oil bomb crashed close to the bows of Ohio, showering her with burning liquid. Then came three more echelons of German planes. This time, however, close air support from Malta was available. ^[23] Sixteen Spitfires, of 249 and 229 Squadron from Malta had sighted the enemy. ^[24] The first enemy formation wavered and broke. The second formation also broke, but one section of the Junkers 88 formation succeeded in breaking free, making for the tanker. These were swiftly followed by the Spitfires. Three of the German planes were shot down or maneuvered to evade the Spitfires, however one bomber held its course, and a 1,000-pound bomb landed in the wake of the tanker. The Ohio was flung forward, parting Rye's tow, buckling the stern plates of the tanker and forming a great hole. ^[25] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... HMS Bramham (L51) coat of arms The HMS Bramham pennant L51 was a Royal Navy ship laid down in Alexander Stephen & Sons Shipyards of Glasgow, Scotland on 7 April 1941. ... Two ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Ledbury, named after Ledbury, Herefordshire: The first Ledbury, launched in 1940 was a Hunt-class destroyer that served in World War II and was sold for scrap in 1958. ... There have been three warships to bear the name HMS Manchester in the Royal Navy from a small stores ship in the early 1800s to todays modern Type 42 destroyer. ...

Ohio was sinking not much more than forty-five miles west of Malta. Under the protection of the Spitfires, the danger of enemy attacks receded. After the tow line was parted, the Ledbury, still secured to the Ohio by a heavy wire had been pulled round by the heavy yawing tanker, and had ended up alongside Penn, facing wrong way. After a quick analysis of the possibilities, it was decided to tow the tanker with a destroyer on either side of the tanker. Bramham was immediately ordered to make fast to port, while Penn remained coupled to the starboard side. ^[26] The speed was increased and kept to five knots, while the deck of the Ohio was awash amidships. Now under the protection of the coastal batteries of Malta, the group of ships were slowly heaving around the island, approaching the Grand Harbour. The coastal batteries fired on a creeping U-Boat conning tower, and scared off a group of E-Boats. Slowly, the group approached the tricky towards the harbour, near Zonqor Point. Here the group ended in the approaches of a British-laid minefield. ^[27] Grand Harbour is an excellent natural harbour on the island of Malta. ... U-boat is also a nickname for some diesel locomotives built by GE; see List of GE locomotives October 1939. ... E-boat is the British and American name for the German Schnellboot (S-boot), a small, fast torpedo boat a little larger than the American PT boat and the British MTB. Specification Length - 34. ... A landmine is a type of mine which is placed onto or into the ground and explodes when triggered by a vehicle or person. ...

At 6 AM, with Ohio still hovering on the edge of the minefield, the situation was eased by the arrival of the Malta tugs. With destroyers still linked on either side of the tanker, these sturdy ships made fast ahead and astern, and the tanker was soon proceeding up the channel to the Grand Harbour entrance. ^[28]

SS Ohio entering the Grand Harbour of Malta lashed between two destroyers

There a fabulous welcome awaited them. On the ramparts above the wreck strewn harbour, on the Barracca, St Angelo and Senglea, great crowds of Maltese men and women waved and cheered and a brass band on the end of the mole was giving a spirited rendering of Rule Britannia. Captain Mason, however, standing at the salute on the battered bridge of the Ohio, could spare no moment's thought for the pride of bringing the ship to harbour, since the creaking plates showed that the fight of Ohio might still end at the bottom of the Grand Harbour. ^[29] Image File history File links Operation Pedestal, SS Ohio entering the Grand Harbour of Malta lashed between two destroyers. ... Image File history File links Operation Pedestal, SS Ohio entering the Grand Harbour of Malta lashed between two destroyers. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... USS McFaul (DDG-74) In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet or battle group and defend them against smaller, short-range but powerful attackers (originally torpedo boats, later submarines and aircraft). ... Fort St Angelo is a large fortification on the island of Malta. ... Senglea is a fortified city in the east of Malta, mainly in the Grand Harbour area. ... “Rule Britannia” is a patriotic British national song, originating from the poem Rule Britannia by James Thomson, and set to music by Thomas Arne in 1740. ...

Pipes were now hauled aboard and emergency salvage pumps began to discharge the kerosene. At the same time, a fleet auxiliary, the Boxall, began to pump the 10,000 tons of fuel oil into her own tanks. As the oil flowed out, the Ohio sank lower and lower in the water. The last gallon left her and simultaneously her keel settled on the bottom. ^[30] Her captain, Dudley William Mason, was subsequently awarded the George Cross.^[31] After Ohio reached Malta, the ship broke in two from the damage it had sustained. There were insufficient shipyard facilities to repair the tanker, so the two halves were used for storage, and later barracks facilities for Yugoslavian troops. On 19 September 1946, the two halves were towed ten miles off the coast, and sunk with naval gunfire. The aft section sank first, followed by the forward half. ^[32] The gallon (abbreviation: gal) is a unit of volume. ... // In boats and ships, keel can mean either of two parts; a structural element, or a hydrodynamic element; these parts overlap. ... Dudley William Mason was the captain of the tanker SS Ohio during the World War II operation codenamed Operation Pedestal, which was a convoy intended to relieve the island of Malta. ... The George Cross (GC) is the highest Commonwealth decoration awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry not in the face of the enemy, while the Victoria Cross is awarded for valour in the face of the enemy. ... September 19 is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years). ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ...

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