SS Java Arrow: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 17:22, 9 June 2025

Revision as of 17:24, 9 June 2025

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{{Mdy|date=June 2025}}

{{Short description|American oil tanker (1921–1959)}}

{{Infobox ship|ship_image=Javaarrow.jpg|ship_caption=''Java Arrow'' in 1921|name=Java Arrow (1921–1943)<br>Kerry Patch (1943–1944; 1946–1948)<br>Celtic (1944–1946)<br>Radketch (1948–1949)<br>Gale (1949–1955)<br> Sugar (1955–1959)|builders=Bethlehem Shipbuilding Company, Quincy|in_service_range=1921–1959|in_commission_range=1943–1946|ship_builder=Bethlehem Shipbuilding Company, Quincy|ship_registry=New York, New York|ship_owner=Socony (1921–1942)<br>War Shipping Administration (1942–1943; 1946–1948)<br>US Navy (1943–1946)<br>Radocean Tanker Corporation (1948–1949)<br>Radmar Trading Corporation (1949–1959)<br> Cantieri Navali del Golfo (1959)|ship_country=United States|ship_operator=Socony (1921–1943)<br>US Navy (1943–1946)<br>Radocean Tanker Corporation (1948–1949)<br>Soc. Armadora Valenciana SA (1949–1955)<br>Marine Charters Inc. (1955–1959)<br>Cantieri Navali del Golfo (1959)|ship_yard_number=1388|ship_launched=April 30, 1921|ship_completed=May 24, 1921|ship_commissioned=January 17, 1944|ship_decommissioned=February 6, 1946|ship_in_service=1921–1959|ship_renamed=1943 (to ''Kerry Patch'')<br>1944 (to ''Celtic'')<br>1946 (to ''Kerry Patch'')<br>1948 (to ''Radketch'')<br>1949 (to ''Gale'')<br>1955 (to ''Sugar'')|ship_identification=[[Official number#U.S. official number|US official number]]: 221272<br>Naval identification: IX-13 (1944–1946)|ship_homeport=[[New York City|New York]], New York|ship_fate=Broken up in La Spezia, March 1959|ship_class=[[Arrow-class oil tanker]]|ship_tonnage=8,327 GRT<br>13,325 DWT|ship_displacement=20,000 tons|ship_length=485 feet (148 m)|ship_beam=62.5 feet (19.1 m)|ship_depth=31.5 feet (9.6 m)|ship_propulsion=1 screw|ship_speed=10.6 knots (12.2 mph; 19.6 km/h)|ship_complement=114 men|ship_armament=1x 4"/50-caliber gun, 1x 3"/50-caliber gun, 8x Oerlikon 20mm guns (1944–1946)|display_title=SS ''Java Arrow''}}'''SS ''Java Arrow''''' was an American [[Steamship|steam-powered]] [[Tanker (ship)|oil tanker]]. She was built in 1921 as a member of the [[Arrow-class oil tanker|Arrow-class]] and served with the [[History of ExxonMobil#Standard Oil of New York (1911–1998)|Standard Oil Company of New York]] (Socony) until World War II, and then was operated by six different entities under five other names until 1959: '''''Celtic''''', '''''Kerry Patch''''', '''''Radketch''''', '''''Gale''''', and '''''Sugar'''''.

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''Java Arrow'' was taken by the [[War Shipping Administration]] (WSA) in 1942 and placed into service with the [[United States Merchant Marine]].<ref name=":5" />

[[File:Java_Arrow_torpedoed.jpg|left|thumb|''Java Arrow'' listing to starboard after being torpedoed; note the two torpedo holes on her port side]]

During her first voyage as a [[Maritime transport|merchant mariner]], ''Java Arrow'' was torpedoed by the [[German submarine U-333|German U-boatsubmarine ''U-333'']]. Passing {{convert|8|mi|spell=in}} off [[Vero Beach, Florida]] and [[Ballast|sailing in ballast]] on May 5, 1942, two torpedoes were fired by ''U-333'' at 5:43 AM. The first struck just aft of the bridge and the second struck the stern, demolishing the [[engine room]],<ref name=":2" /> killing two officers, and causing the ship to stop. An SOS signal was sent out, listing ''Java Arrow''<nowiki/>'s position as 27°35'N, 80°08'W. Most of the tanker's 45 men—seven officers, 32 crewmen, and six armed guards—abandoned her in a lifeboat after 20 minutes. The remaining crew followed just ten minutes later in a second lifeboat. Believing ''Java Arrow'' to be doomed, Captain Hennechin ordered the lifeboats to row away from the tanker.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Gibson |first=Charles Diana |title=The Close-in War Off North Hutchinson Island |url=http://www.historyor.com/id87.html |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=Ocean Resorts Co-Op History -- From Campground to Community}}</ref> They were picked up on May 6 by USS ''PC-483'' and taken to [[Miami]] and [[Fort Pierce, Florida|Fort Pierce]].<ref name=":2" />

The tanker was still afloat upon the arrival of the [[United States Coast Guard|US Coast Guard]], and ''Java Arrow'' was bordered by a USCG officer who determined that she could be repaired and put back into service. The tanker's starboard [[Anchor|anchor chain]] was cut by a local welder,<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> allowing the tugs ''Ontario'' and ''Bafshe'' to tow the tanker to [[Port Everglades]] while escorted by multiple US Coast Guard vessels. ''Java Arrow'' was later taken to [[Norfolk, Virginia]], for permanent repairs—her engine was replaced with one from the British motor tanker ''Kars''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Celtic (II) (IX-137) |url=https://www.hazegray.org/danfs/ix/ix137.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501061244/https://www.hazegray.org/danfs/ix/ix137.htm |archive-date=2025-05-01 |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=www.hazegray.org}}</ref> The tanker was renamed ''Kerry Patch'' in 1943.<ref name=":5" />