herakles
06-04-2008, 21:16
The Ohio was launched in 1940. She was owned by Texaco and at the time was the largest oil tanker in the world, capable of carrying 170,000 barrels of oil.
In late May 1942, Ohio entered the Clyde and discharged a huge cargo of petrol. The Captain received a telegram, congratulating him and his crew for bringing the first US petrol to Britain. The same day, Texaco received a telegram telling them that Ohio was being requestioned by the Admiralty. After 2 weeks of intense US-UK negotiations, the ship was duly confiscated and a British crew went on board.
The Admiralty had decided the Ohio was needed as part of Operation Pedastal, a massive convoy to Malta. The convoy left on August 2nd with Ohio full of diesel and kerosene. She was the only tanker in this convoy. They reached Gibraltar 10th August and the following day HMS Eagle - an aircraft carrier - was destroyed by German and Italian planes.
The convoy was under constant attack and on the 12th Ohio was hit amidships by an Italian torpedo. Badly damaged and on fire it was at first thought she was lost but the fires were extinguished and the ship limped on. She was now constantly under attack, at one stage from 60 Stukas. She was hit time and time again but still staggered on.
One attack knocked out the engines but the crew managed to start them again. Another salvo of bombs knocked out the engines again and the ship now in danger of sinking, stopped. The crew abandoned ship and were taken on-board HMS Penn. This ship then left in order to assist the crippled HMS Manchester.
Later she returned and a tow line was used. Ohio was hit yet again and her back was broken. Penn tried to tow her but made almost no headway. They were joined by HMS Rye and together they started making headway. They were then joined by HMS Ledbury and HMS Bramham. Ledbury propped the Ohio up. Still the attacks continued and one bomb landing very close, pushed Ohio forward, causing the tow to break.
It was decided that the only way to keep Ohio afloat was to place ships on either side of her and Ledbury and Penn took up their positions there. Somehow they negotiated the difficult entrance and minefield to Grand Harbour and tugs were able to make secure and finish the task of getting her safely inside. The kerosene was discharged as quickly as possible as Ohio continued to sink. She bottomed on the sea floor then broke in half.
Later her captain, Dudley Mason, was awarded the George Cross. The Ledbury's captain, Lt. Commander Hill, received a "Well Done!" telegram from Winston Churchill.
In late May 1942, Ohio entered the Clyde and discharged a huge cargo of petrol. The Captain received a telegram, congratulating him and his crew for bringing the first US petrol to Britain. The same day, Texaco received a telegram telling them that Ohio was being requestioned by the Admiralty. After 2 weeks of intense US-UK negotiations, the ship was duly confiscated and a British crew went on board.
The Admiralty had decided the Ohio was needed as part of Operation Pedastal, a massive convoy to Malta. The convoy left on August 2nd with Ohio full of diesel and kerosene. She was the only tanker in this convoy. They reached Gibraltar 10th August and the following day HMS Eagle - an aircraft carrier - was destroyed by German and Italian planes.
The convoy was under constant attack and on the 12th Ohio was hit amidships by an Italian torpedo. Badly damaged and on fire it was at first thought she was lost but the fires were extinguished and the ship limped on. She was now constantly under attack, at one stage from 60 Stukas. She was hit time and time again but still staggered on.
One attack knocked out the engines but the crew managed to start them again. Another salvo of bombs knocked out the engines again and the ship now in danger of sinking, stopped. The crew abandoned ship and were taken on-board HMS Penn. This ship then left in order to assist the crippled HMS Manchester.
Later she returned and a tow line was used. Ohio was hit yet again and her back was broken. Penn tried to tow her but made almost no headway. They were joined by HMS Rye and together they started making headway. They were then joined by HMS Ledbury and HMS Bramham. Ledbury propped the Ohio up. Still the attacks continued and one bomb landing very close, pushed Ohio forward, causing the tow to break.
It was decided that the only way to keep Ohio afloat was to place ships on either side of her and Ledbury and Penn took up their positions there. Somehow they negotiated the difficult entrance and minefield to Grand Harbour and tugs were able to make secure and finish the task of getting her safely inside. The kerosene was discharged as quickly as possible as Ohio continued to sink. She bottomed on the sea floor then broke in half.
Later her captain, Dudley Mason, was awarded the George Cross. The Ledbury's captain, Lt. Commander Hill, received a "Well Done!" telegram from Winston Churchill.