The SS Pendleton

SS Pendleton was a Type T2-SE-A1 tanker built in 1944 in Portland, Oregon, United States, for the War Shipping Administration. She was sold in 1948 to National Bulk Carriers, serving until February 1952 when she broke in two in a storm. The T2 tanker ships were prone to splitting in two in cold weather. The ship’s sinking and crew rescue (along with break-up and rescue of its sister ship GRT, 6,801 NRT,(2) 16,643 DWT, (1) she was 504 feet 0 inches (153.62 m) long, with a beam of 68 feet 2 inches (20.78 m) and a depth of 39 feet 2 inches (11.94 m). Her propulsion was “turbo-electric” (a steam turbine driving a generator that produced electricity to power a motor that drove the propeller shaft). The turbine was manufactured by General Electric of Worcester, Massachusetts. (2) It could propel her at a speed of 16 knots (30 km/h). (1)

Pendleton was launched on January 21, 1944, and completed in February. She was built for the United States Maritime Commission. (1) She was owned by the War Shipping Administration. Her port of registry was Portland, Oregon. The United States Official Number 245142 and Code Letters KWAA were allocated. (2) During World War II, Pendleton was a member of convoy ON 249, which departed from Liverpool, Lancashire, United Kingdom on August 18, 1944, and arrived at New York on September 2. (3)

Pendleton was transferred to National Bulk Carriers of Wilmington, Delaware in 1948. (1) In July 1951, Pendleton ran aground in the Hudson River, New York. She was refloated the next day. The damaged part of the hull would later play a key role in the sinking. (4)

Site source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Pendleton; April 2020

References

1. Visser, Auke. “Pendleton”. Auke Visser’s Famous T – Tankers Pages. Auke Visser. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
2. Lloyd’s of London (1945). “Lloyd’s Register Steamers and Motorships”(PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved September 30,2014.
3. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
4. Visser, Auke. “Pendleton Wreck”. Auke Visser’s Famous T – Tankers Pages. Auke Visser. Retrieved September 30, 2014.