COLLISION DISASTER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 June 1943, Page 4

COLLISION DISASTER

ALLIED AMMUNITION SHIP & TANKER OFF AMERICAN COAST. HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.45 a.m.) WASHINGTON, June 6. The Navy Department has announced the loss of a merchant ship laden with ammunition, and also a tanker, as the result of a collision off the east coast a few days ago. Eighty-three men are missing and 67 survivors have landed at Norfolk, Virginia. Those missing comprise eight of the crew and ten Navy gunners from the tanker anfd 40 of the crew and 25 gunners from the merchant 1 ship. The munition ship exploded and sank immediately after the collision. The tanker burst into flames and sank.

FATAL CHANGE OF COURSE

MUNITIONS SHIP RAMS TANKER (Received This Day, 1.20 p.m.) NEW YORK, June 6. It is officially stated that the tanker did not sink, although she was enveloped in flames from stem to stern. The Associated Press of America reveals that the collision occurred at dawn on June 1. Survivors said the vessels were proceeding in opposite directions, on parallel courses, when the freighter veered sharply and rammed the tanker. The explosion showered debris on the deck of another ship a quarter of a mile distant

The fire aboard the tanker destroyed all the lifeboats before they could be lowered, compelling survivors of the explosion to jump into the sea. Only three men were saved of the merchantman’s entire complement of 65 and they are critically injured.