Wichita
American Motor merchant
Photo courtesy of the Mariners Museum, Newport News VA
| Name | Wichita | ||
| Type: | Motor merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 6,174 tons | ||
| Completed | 1921 - Doullut & Wiliams Shipbuilding Co Inc, New Orleans LA | ||
| Owner | US Lines Inc, New York | ||
| Homeport | New Orleans | ||
| Date of attack | 19 Sep 1942 | Nationality:  American | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-516 (Gerhard Wiebe) | ||
| Position | Grid EE 7544 | ||
| Complement | 50 (50 dead - no survivors) | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Takoradi (1 Sep) - St. Thomas, Virgin Islands - New York | ||
| Cargo | General cargo | ||
| History | Completed in March 1921 as steam merchant for US Shipping Board (USSB). 1929 converted to a motor merchant. | ||
| Notes on loss | At 06.48 hours on 19 Sep, 1942, the unescorted Wichita (Master Herman Swain Chessman) was hit between the forward mast and the bridge by one torpedo from U-516 and sank in less than one minute about 300 miles northeast of Barbados. The ship was zigzagging at 11.5 knots and had been missed with a spread of two torpedoes at 06.05 hours. The Germans searched the sinking position but sighted no lifeboats or survivors, the ten officers, 30 crewmen and ten armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in and four .50cal guns) were lost. | ||
| Crewlists | We have listing of 50 people who were on this vessel | ||
Location of attack on Wichita.
ship sunk.
* Estimated position shown here is based on positions of losses in a roughly the same German grid code. It may be a bit off but should give a good idea as to where the attack took place.
If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.