The ship's keel was laid in Permanente Metals Richmond, CA, Yard 2 on July 2, 1943 as hull number 1715, type EC2-S-C1. She was launched on July 24, 1943 and delivered on August 4, 1943. The Melville E. Stone was 22 days on the Ways, 12 days in the Water and 34 days to Delivery. After delivery to the War Shipping Administration, she was operated by Norton Lilly & Company, NY.[3]
At 06:14 hours on November 24, 1943, the unescorted Melville E. Stone (Master Lawrence J. Gallagher) was hit by two torpedoes from German submarine U-516 about 100 miles northwest of Cristobal, Canal Zone, at 10°29′N80°20′W / 10.483°N 80.333°W / 10.483; -80.333. The ship had been at sea less than seven hours when the torpedoes were spotted by a lookout. The first torpedo struck on the port side in the settling tank and the second hit ten seconds later near #4 hold. The explosions opened large holes in the side and extensively damaged the main and auxiliary engines. As the ship settled rapidly on an even keel, the 42-man complement, 23 armed guards and 23 passengers (military personnel) abandoned ship immediately in rough seas. Two of the lifeboats capsized from the suction created by the ship, which sank within eight minutes and several men drowned, including the master. Three boats got away and were later picked up men from rafts and debris. The survivors were later spotted by an aircraft, which dropped flares so that the American submarine chasers USS SC-1023 and USS SC-662 could pick them up. Five officers, seven crewmen, two armed guards and one passenger were lost.[4]
In the Media
On February 20, 1944, The New York Times reported:[5]
"CAPTAIN, RADIO MAN HEROES AS SHIP SINKS"
"Go Down at Posts as Torpedoes Doom the Melville E. Stone"
"WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (AP) – Accounts of heroism abounded in the War Shipping Administration's report tonight on the torpedoing of the Liberty ship Melville E. Stone in the Caribbean Sea with the loss of sixteen lives.
Last aboard was the ship's master, Capt. Lawrence J. Gallagher of Sacramento, Calif., who refused to pause in his direction of abandon-ship efforts long enough to don a life-preserver. A rope thrown to him from the last waiting lifeboat fell short and the captain was never seen after the war freighter went down.
A civilian passenger, John M. Atkinson, saved the life of the commander of the Navy's armed guard on the vessel, Lieutenant (J.G.) Ernest Edward Tucker of Oak Park, Ill. Lieutenant Tucker said Mr. Atkinson, at great personal peril, held him above the surface until he could be pulled into a lifeboat.
The ship, named for the former general manager of The Associated Press, had a cargo of strategic materials. The radio operator, Peter A. Carrier of Columbia, Mo., stayed at his key to the last. With the aid of a light held by Captain Gallagher, he flashed the SOS before going down with the ship."
References
^ abDavies, James (2004). "Liberty Cargo Ship" (PDF). ww2ships.com. p. 23. Retrieved 19 Feb 2014.
^"Melville E. Stone Dies In 81st Year At His Home Here. Counselor Of Associated Press Dies". New York Times. February 16, 1929. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
^"Permanente Metals Corporation – Kaiser Richmond CA Shipyards; Liberty and Victory Ships". sanpedro.com. 2011. Retrieved 19 Feb 2014.
^"Melville E. Stone". Uboat.net. Retrieved 19 February 2014.
^"CAPTAIN, RADIO MAN HEROES AS SHIP SINKS". New York Times. February 19, 1944. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
Further reading
Davies, James (2004). "Liberty Cargo Ship" (PDF). ww2ships.com.
August 23, 2023
melville, stone, liberty, ship, built, united, states, during, world, named, after, melville, elijah, stone, august, 1848, february, 1929, newspaper, publisher, founder, chicago, daily, news, time, general, manager, reorganized, associated, press, historyunite. The SS Melville E Stone was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II She was named after Melville Elijah Stone August 22 1848 February 15 1929 a newspaper publisher founder of the Chicago Daily News and one time general manager of the reorganized Associated Press 2 HistoryUnited StatesNameMelville E StoneNamesakeMelville Elijah StoneLaid down2 July 1943Launched24 July 1943FateTorpedoed and sunk by U 516 24 November 1943General characteristicsClass and typeType EC2 S C1 Cargo shipTonnage10 856 tonnes deadweight DWT 1 Displacement14 245 tons 1 Length135 m 441 ft 6 in Beam17 3 m 56 ft 10 75 in Draft8 5 m 27 ft 9 25 in PropulsionTwo oil fired boilers triple expansion steam engine single screw 2 500 horsepower 1 864 kW Speed11 to 11 5 knots 20 to 21 km h Range23 000 miles 37 000 km Complement42 Merchant Marine 10 Officers 32 crewmen ArmamentStern mounted 4 in 100 mm deck gun one 3 in 76 mm and eight 20 mm anti aircraft guns Contents 1 History 2 In the Media 3 References 4 Further readingHistory EditThe ship s keel was laid in Permanente Metals Richmond CA Yard 2 on July 2 1943 as hull number 1715 type EC2 S C1 She was launched on July 24 1943 and delivered on August 4 1943 The Melville E Stone was 22 days on the Ways 12 days in the Water and 34 days to Delivery After delivery to the War Shipping Administration she was operated by Norton Lilly amp Company NY 3 At 06 14 hours on November 24 1943 the unescorted Melville E Stone Master Lawrence J Gallagher was hit by two torpedoes from German submarine U 516 about 100 miles northwest of Cristobal Canal Zone at 10 29 N 80 20 W 10 483 N 80 333 W 10 483 80 333 The ship had been at sea less than seven hours when the torpedoes were spotted by a lookout The first torpedo struck on the port side in the settling tank and the second hit ten seconds later near 4 hold The explosions opened large holes in the side and extensively damaged the main and auxiliary engines As the ship settled rapidly on an even keel the 42 man complement 23 armed guards and 23 passengers military personnel abandoned ship immediately in rough seas Two of the lifeboats capsized from the suction created by the ship which sank within eight minutes and several men drowned including the master Three boats got away and were later picked up men from rafts and debris The survivors were later spotted by an aircraft which dropped flares so that the American submarine chasers USS SC 1023 and USS SC 662 could pick them up Five officers seven crewmen two armed guards and one passenger were lost 4 In the Media EditOn February 20 1944 The New York Times reported 5 CAPTAIN RADIO MAN HEROES AS SHIP SINKS Go Down at Posts as Torpedoes Doom the Melville E Stone WASHINGTON Feb 19 AP Accounts of heroism abounded in the War Shipping Administration s report tonight on the torpedoing of the Liberty ship Melville E Stone in the Caribbean Sea with the loss of sixteen lives Last aboard was the ship s master Capt Lawrence J Gallagher of Sacramento Calif who refused to pause in his direction of abandon ship efforts long enough to don a life preserver A rope thrown to him from the last waiting lifeboat fell short and the captain was never seen after the war freighter went down A civilian passenger John M Atkinson saved the life of the commander of the Navy s armed guard on the vessel Lieutenant J G Ernest Edward Tucker of Oak Park Ill Lieutenant Tucker said Mr Atkinson at great personal peril held him above the surface until he could be pulled into a lifeboat The ship named for the former general manager of The Associated Press had a cargo of strategic materials The radio operator Peter A Carrier of Columbia Mo stayed at his key to the last With the aid of a light held by Captain Gallagher he flashed the SOS before going down with the ship References Edit a b Davies James 2004 Liberty Cargo Ship PDF ww2ships com p 23 Retrieved 19 Feb 2014 Melville E Stone Dies In 81st Year At His Home Here Counselor Of Associated Press Dies New York Times February 16 1929 Retrieved 2014 02 19 Permanente Metals Corporation Kaiser Richmond CA Shipyards Liberty and Victory Ships sanpedro com 2011 Retrieved 19 Feb 2014 Melville E Stone Uboat net Retrieved 19 February 2014 CAPTAIN RADIO MAN HEROES AS SHIP SINKS New York Times February 19 1944 Retrieved 2014 02 19 Further reading EditDavies James 2004 Liberty Cargo Ship PDF ww2ships com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title SS Melville E Stone amp oldid 1162521606, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
