SS R. W. Gallagher

History
United States
Name	R. W. Gallagher
Namesake	Ralph W. Gallagher
Owner	Standard Oil Company of New Jersey
Builder	Sparrow's Point
Cost	US$2,000,000
Yard number	4307
Laid down	11 January 1937
Launched	22 January 1938
Sponsored by	Mrs. Mary E. Gallagher
Completed	3 August 1938
Commissioned	8 August 1938
Homeport	Wilmington
Identification	US Official Number 237760 Call sign WPKP
Fate	Sunk, 13 July 1942
General characteristics
Type	Tanker
Tonnage	7,989 GRT 4,738 NRT 12,950 DWT
Length	445 ft 4 in (135.74 m)
Beam	64 ft 2 in (19.56 m)
Depth	35 ft 2 in (10.72 m)
Installed power	985 Nhp, 3,000 ihp
Propulsion	2 x screw
Speed	13 knots (15 mph; 24 km/h)
Armament	During WWII 1 × 5 in (127 mm) naval gun 1 × 3 in (76 mm) naval gun 2 × .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns 2 × .30 cal (7.62 mm) machine guns

R. W. Gallagher was a

Design and construction

Early in 1936 Standard Oil Company of New Jersey decided to expand and modernize their fleet of tankers operating between the southern oil ports and New York and New Jersey. A contract for four of them, of approximately 13,000 deadweight, was awarded to the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp. and the ship was laid down at the shipbuilder's yard in Sparrow's Point (yard number 4307) on 11 January 1937, and launched on 22 January 1938, with Mrs. Mary E. Gallagher of New York, wife of Ralph W. Gallagher, serving as the sponsor.^[1][2] The ship was named after Ralph W. Gallagher, an acting vice-president of Standard Oil at the time of construction and future president of the company. The ceremony was attended by nearly 800 people including 450 dignitaries, such as James J. Walker, former mayor of New York, accompanied by his wife Betty Compton and Rear-Admiral Emory S. Land, head of Maritime Commission.^[3] The ship was built on the modified Isherwood bracketless principle of longitudinal framing developed by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding's naval architect H. P. Frear. It allowed to economize in weight and ease of construction and was used to build ships for the first time during construction of these four tankers. The tanker had 24 oil compartments capable of carrying 4,500,000 gallons of oil, a dry cargo hold in the front of the vessel which could be accessed through a large hatch on the main deck. The ship had one main deck, and was also equipped with radio including a radio direction finder. The tanker was completely fireproof throughout and was specially equipped for operation in the tropics.^[4]

As built, the ship was 445 feet 4 inches (135.74 m) long (

Upon completion, the tanker departed Baltimore for trial trip on August 3 during which the steamer performed satisfactorily.^[6] Following successful trials the tanker left for New York on August 8 to get prepared for commercial service.^[7]

Operational history

After completion of sea trials the tanker was transferred to her owners and arrived in New York on 10 August 1938. From there she sailed on her maiden voyage for the oil ports in the

R. W. Gallagher sailed from Newport News in ballast on 29 June 1942 as part of convoy KS-515 together with fifteen other merchant ships and reached Key West on July 5.^[14] There the tanker as well as two other ships, SS Paul H. Harwood and SS Socony Vacuum, were met by destroyer Overton to serve as an escort to New Orleans.^[15] By the end of the day another steamer, SS Gulfbreeze, joined the convoy. The journey was rather uneventful for the first two days, but in the early morning hours on July 7 Paul H. Harwood was hit by a torpedo and had to be temporarily abandoned. Overton searched the area until noon next day but could not find the submarine while the small convoy continued its journey west.^[15]

Sinking

R.W. Gallagher left Baytown for Port Everglades transporting approximately 80,855 barrels of No.6 Navy fuel oil on 10 July 1942. The vessel was under command of captain Aage Petersen and had a crew of forty officers and men in addition to twelve Naval guards.^[16] The tanker first sailed to Bolivar Roads in Galveston Bay where she stayed for two days awaiting orders from the Navy as she were to continue unescorted on her trip. After receiving the instructions, the ship sailed out to her destination early in the morning of July 12.^[10] The journey was uneventful until the vessel reached the Ship Shoal Wreck Buoy. At about 01:20 on July 13 the tanker was detected by German submarine U-67 lurking outside Louisiana coast in an approximate position 28°32′N 90°59′W / 28.533°N 90.983°W / 28.533; -90.983, about 80 miles from Southwest Pass. At about 01:40 U-67 fired two torpedoes at the ship from a distance of approximately 600 meters.^[17] R. W. Gallagher was struck in quick succession by both torpedoes on her starboard side around No.3 hold and pump-room. The tanker immediately was put ablaze amidships and started listing to starboard as her engines stopped and a short circuit knocked out all electricity.^[10] The explosion destroyed several lifeboats and the captain was effectively cut off at the forecastle from the rest of the crew and unable to issue orders. The crew managed to launch one lifeboat and one raft with the rest of the crew jumping off into the water to avoid the flames.^[10] Meanwhile, the submarine seeing that the vessel does not sink rapidly fired another torpedo from approximately 500 meters to deliver coup de grâce about 10 minutes later aiming for the engines, but inexplicably missed.^[17] U-67 fired another torpedo several minutes later obtaining a hit, but due to piston malfunction there was no explosion. Lack of bow torpedoes and arrival of patrol vessel Boutwell on the scene forced U-67 to leave the area.^[17] Meanwhile, the captain stayed aboard the ship until she was about to capsize and had to jump off at about 02:20.^[10] The tanker finally capsized forty minutes later but did not sink until approximately 05:30.^[10] After cutter Boutwell collected all survivors it was determined that three of them required emergency help and a plane was called for to transport them to the hospital.^[10] US Coast Guard PH-2 plane from Biloxi Air Station was dispatched and arrived around 07:00 and took all three to New Orleans. All three of them later died at the hospital. The other survivors were landed in New Orleans by Boutwell at 19:15.^[10] Overall, there were forty-two survivors and ten casualties in the attack.

28°32′N 90°59′W / 28.533°N 90.983°W / 28.533; -90.983

References