Axtell J. Byles
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| Name | Axtell J. Byles | ||
| Type: | Steam tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 8.955 tons | ||
| Completed | 1927 - Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co, Chester PA | ||
| Owner | Tide Water Associated Oil Co, New York | ||
| Homeport | Wilmington | ||
| Date of attack | 19 Apr, 1942 | Nationality:  American | |
| Fate | Damaged by U-136 (Heinrich Zimmermann) | ||
| Position | 35.32N, 75.19W - Grid CA 7936 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 40 (0 dead and 40 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Port Arthur (11 Apr) - New York | ||
| Cargo | 57000 bbls of crude oil and 27000 bbls of fuel oil | ||
| History | | ||
| Notes on loss | The unarmed Axtell J. Byles (Master John D. Baldwin) was the lead ship in the seaward column of a two column convoy (seven tanker and one freighter) formed at the Cape Lookout Light. The US coast guard cutter USS Dione (WPC 107), four small US coast guard boats and an airplane escorted the convoy. They steamed at 9.5 knots but did not zigzag. At 00.34 hours on 19 Apr, 1942, U-136 fired a spread of four torpedoes at the convoy about four miles off Wimble Shoals, North Carolina. The aircraft spotted the track of one torpedo and warned the ships. The Axtell J. Byles turned the wheel hard left and increased speed, but she was too slow. One torpedo struck just forward of the bridge at the #2 tank on starboard. The explosion blew a large hole in the side, both above and below the waterline and severely damaged the bridge and the midships house. The tanker settled by the bow and all tanks forward of the #6 tank flooded, but she did not sink. The Axtell J. Byles arrived to Hampton Roads under her own power in the evening. The crew of eight officers and 32 men reported no injuries. | ||
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