Refast
British Steam tanker
Refast under her former name Gulflight
| Name | Refast | ||
| Type: | Steam tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 5,189 tons | ||
| Completed | 1914 - New York Shipbuilding Corp, Camden NJ | ||
| Owner | Harris & Dixon Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 26 Jan 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-582 (Werner Schulte) | ||
| Position | 42° 41'N, 53° 02'W - Grid CC 2125 | ||
| Complement | 42 (10 dead and 32 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | ON-56 (dispersed) | ||
| Route | London (3 Jan) - Loch Ewe (12 Jan) - Baton Rouge | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Completed in August 1914 as Gulflight for Gulf Oil Co, New York. At 12.50 hours on 1 May 1915, the neutral tanker was torpedoed and badly damaged by U-30 (von Rosenberg-Grusczyski) in the approaches of the English Channel while en route from Port Arthur, Texas to Rouen with a cargo of motor spirit. Three lives were lost. She was the first American ship to be attacked in the First World War. 1937 renamed Nantucket Chief for Nantucket Chief SS Co Inc, Port Arthur TX. 1938 sold to Britain and renamed Refast. | ||
| Notes on event | At 18.58 hours on 26 Jan 1942 the Refast (Master Arthur Ernest Wilson), dispersed on 16 January from convoy ON-56, was torpedoed by U-582 south of St. Johns. The ship sank by the stern at 19.15 hours after being hit by two coups de grâce at 19.07 and 19.08 hours. Ten crew members were lost. The master, 27 crew members and four gunners were picked up by the British steam merchant Mariposa and landed at Halifax the next day. | ||
| On board | We have details of 11 people who were on board. | ||
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