Pillory
The Pillory under her former name Jonna. Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart
| Name | Pillory | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 1.517 tons | ||
| Completed | 1933 - Nakskov Skibsværft A/S, Nakskov | ||
| Owner | Danish Ship Operating Co, Panama | ||
| Homeport | Panama | ||
| Date of attack | 5 Jun, 1944 | Nationality:  Panaman | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-539 (Hans-Jürgen Lauterbach-Emden) | ||
| Position | 18.25N, 67.17W - Grid ED 1224 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 47 (25 dead and 22 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | San Juan, Puerto Rico (5 Jun) - Guayanilla, Puerto Rico | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Built as Danish Jonna for J. Lauritzen, Copenhagen. In April 1940 laid up in New York and on 11 Jun, 1941 confiscated by the US Government under Executive Privilege and transferred to the US War Shipping Administration. On 5 August, she was Bareboat chartered tp the US War Department and on 17 Mar, 1942 assigned to the Marine Operating Company under GAA agreement, renamed Pillory and registered in Panama. From 19 Aug, 1942 to 8 Feb, 1944, the ship was operated by the Stockard SS Company and then by the Danish Ship Operating Company under GAA agreement. | ||
| Notes on loss | At 20.05 hours on 5 Jun, 1944, the Pillory (Master Laurid N. Sorensen) was torpedoed by U-539 off Puerto Rico. The ship had departed San Juan about 13.00 hours and met six hours later her escort, the US Coast Guard cutter USS CG-83310, which took station about 500 yards off the starboard beam but had difficulties to keep up. One torpedo struck in the #2 hold directly below the starboard wing of the bridge, blew away that part of the ship and caused a starboard list because the hold was flooded immediately. Three officers and a signalman were blown overboard. Two minutes later a second torpedo hit amidships on the starboard side breaking the ship in two, blowing parts of the machinery out through the skylight and causing her to sink immediately by the bow. The 37 crew members and ten armed guards on board had no time to launch the lifeboats and jumped overboard after releasing some rafts. 21 survivors (one later died of wounds in hospital) were picked up by the cutter and two more by the US Coast Guard cutter USS Crawford (WSC 134) and were taken to Mayaguez, arriving at 23.30 hours. In all, the master, 20 crew members and four armed guards were lost. | ||
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