40.23.204N 069.36.2795W 515'11''long 70' beam T3 Tanker 11017 GT 9,350 shaft horsepower single screw SUNK 4/18/44 position accurate to 1mi Built 11-1943 Welding Shipyards, Inc (div of National Bulk Carriers) Norfolk, Va

By 1944 the German U boat offensive was being countered by new tactics and equipment such as radar and sonar. The U-550 left Kiel on her first patrol on Feb 6, 1944. She sailed for Newfoundland and NE United States under the command of Kapitanleutnant Klaus Hanert.

April 15,1944 28 Merchant ships left New York for Great Britain in fast tanker convoy CU-21.Due to bad weather the ships were traveling in 2 columns surrounded by 6 destroyer escorts.The escorts were commanded by Coast Guard Captain William Kenner. When the weather cleared on April 16 south of Nantucket, the convoy commander , Captain Tillman U.S.N. ordered the tankers to take their assigned positions. The tanker Pan Pennsylvania, the largest tanker in the world, lagged behind the convoy and was torpedoed by U-550. A little after 0800 , the torpedo slammed into the port side of the tanker.. The ship was carrying 140,000 barrels of aviation fuel. The ship quickly caught fire and settled toward the stern and the port side. The destroyers USS Joyce and USS Peterson were ordered to her aid. There were 50 crew and 31 members of the Naval Armed Guard on board. Many men jumped into the water . One lifeboat was launched prematurely and capsized throwing the crew into the water.56 men were rescued by the destroyers

The sub tried to hide under the sinking tanker. Not realizing that the destroyers were still in the area picking up survivors, the sub tried to sneak away. The engineering officer on the sub later said "We waited for your ship to leave; soon we could hear nothing so we thought the escort vessels had gone; but as soon as we started to move -- bang!" The Joyce spotted the sub on sonar and started a depth charge run.The charges were well placed. One actually bounced off the subs deck before it exploded. The sub was crippled by the attack and surfaced. A surface battle ensued between the destroyers and the sub. The Joyce, the Peterson and the USS Gandy engaged the sub . The Gandy rammed the sub and the Peterson dropped 2 more depth charges next to the sub. The crew of the sub scuttled her and abandoned ship. 13 men were rescued but 1 died later. The remainder of the crew went down with the sub.

The navy sent a ship out to the spot the 2 days later to sink the still burning hulk with gunfire.19 days later a german seaman was found floating in the area. 2 more were found later in lifejackets with an escape lung. It is believed that they were trapped in the sub and managed to escape only to later perish in the sea.

Pictures courtesy of U. S. Coast Guard History Office