More information : An American Liberty Ship, torpedoed on her maiden voyage by the German submarine U-245 (Schumann-Hindenburg), at 05.45, whilst part of convoy TAM-71, which had assembled in Margate Roads, for Antwerp. She carried a cargo of 9,300 tons of engineers' supplies, mechanized equipment and sewer pipes, acids, oil and portable airstrip material. She left New York on 05-JAN as part of convoy HX-331, arriving Liverpool 22-JAN. When attacked, the submarine was sighted 300 yards of the starboard bow, the weapon exploding against No.4 hold on the starboard side. Hatch covers and beams were blown overboard and all the steam deck lines ruptured. Her engine was stopped and she commenced flooding, sinking stern first five minutes later. The survivors were picked up by HMS HAZARD, a minesweeper, and a small trawler, and landed in England. The passengers comprised 23 armed guard (gunners), one pilot and one army officer. (3)
'On the February 6th, 1945, 17 miles west of Ramsgate on a voyage from New York and Liverpool to Antwerp in the convoy TAM-71 the Henry B Plant was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-245.The lookouts had spotted the U-boat 300 yards off the starboard side, but it was too late to evade the torpedo. The explosion severely damaged the ship and she rapidly sank, sinking stern first within five minutes. Most of the eight officers, 33 crew members, 28 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 5in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns) and one passenger (an Army security officer) had to jump overboard, they only managed to launch one lifeboat and four rafts. The survivors were picked up by the HMS Hazard and the HMS Sir Lancelot. One officer, eight crew members and seven armed guards drowned.' Note by Caroline Ryckewaert, 20/02/2008. (5)
Sources (1) and (2) give tonnage as 7240, (3) as 7176.
Source (2) expresses the position of loss as 17 miles west (sic) of Ramsgate; source (1) states vessel attacked in 51 22N 002E, with the wreck lying in 51 19 11N, 001 48 5E.
Subtype/ class: Liberty EC2-S-C1 class (5)
Built: 1944
Builder: St. John's River Shipbuilding Co.
Where Built: Jacksonville, Florida
Propulsion: Screw driven, 3 cylinder triple expansion engine
HP: 2500
Boilers: 2
Crew: 40
Crew Lost: 9
Passengers: 25
Passengers Lost: 3
Casualties recorded: 12 (?); max 16 (5)
Owner: US War Shipping Administration
Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss
Additional sources cited in United Kingdom Shipwreck Index:
ACW p125; TLS 2nd Ed p163; LR.1944-5 No.90042(H)(Supp)
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