SS Emidio facts for kids
SS Emidio in Vancouver, June 1932. Photograph by Walter E. Frost
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Quick facts for kids History |
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| Name |
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| Owner |
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| Operator |
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| Ordered | 30 April 1918 |
| Builder | Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp., Potrero |
| Yard number | 5274 |
| Laid down | 30 November 1920 |
| Launched | 25 May 1921 |
| Completed | July 1921 |
| Maiden voyage | 14 March 1922 |
| Homeport |
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| Identification |
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| Fate | Wrecked, 20 December 1941 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Design 1047 Tankship |
| Tonnage |
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| Length | 435.0 ft (132.6 m) |
| Beam | 56.2 ft (17.1 m) |
| Depth | 33.5 ft (10.2 m) |
| Installed power | 422 nhp, 3,100 ihp (2,300 kW) |
| Propulsion | Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp. 3-cylinder triple expansion |
| Speed | 11 knots (13 mph; 20 km/h) |
The Hammac was a large steam tank ship built in 1920–1921. It was constructed by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in Alameda. The ship was originally made for the United States Shipping Board as part of a plan to rebuild America's merchant fleet after World War I.
In 1923, the ship was sold to the General Petroleum Corporation and renamed Emidio. For most of its life, the Emidio carried oil along the West Coast of the United States. It also made trips between the West and East Coasts. In December 1941, during World War II, the ship was attacked by a Japanese submarine. It was badly damaged and eventually sank, leading to the loss of five crew members.
Contents
Building a Tanker
After the United States joined World War I, there was a big effort to build more ships. This was to help both the U.S. and its allies. As part of this plan, many standard ship designs were ordered. The Design 1047 was a common type of tanker, designed to carry about 10,100 tons of cargo.
The Hammac was one of six ships ordered by the U.S. Shipping Board in 1918. Its construction began on November 30, 1920, at the shipyard in Potrero Point. The ship was launched on May 25, 1921. It was built using a special method called the Isherwood principle. This method made the ship's body extra strong.
Ship Features
The tanker had two main decks and its engines were located at the back. It also had a special room in the middle for cargo pumps. The ship had tanks throughout its body that could hold over 3 million gallons of oil. It also had four cranes and winches to help load items on deck. Electric lights were installed along the decks, and it had a wireless radio system.
The Hammac was 435.0 feet (132.6 m) long and 56.2 feet (17.1 m) wide. It was about 33.5 feet (10.2 m) deep. The ship weighed about 6,900 GRT gross tons. It had a strong steel hull and a single steam engine. This engine had three cylinders and could produce 422 horsepower. It powered a single propeller, allowing the ship to travel up to 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph). Three large boilers provided the steam for the engine, using oil as fuel.
The ship's test runs happened on July 12–13, 1921. The Hammac performed well during these tests. After some final adjustments, it was given to the U.S. Shipping Board.
Life at Sea
After being delivered, the Hammac was temporarily stored in Benicia. This was because there wasn't enough cargo to carry at the time. The ship stayed idle until early 1922 when demand for shipping increased.
First Voyages
After getting ready, the ship was hired by Union Oil for a single trip. Its mission was to deliver gasoline to the United Kingdom. The Hammac left San Francisco on March 14, 1922, carrying over 3 million gallons of gasoline. It sailed through the Panama Canal and arrived in England on April 21. After unloading, the tanker returned to the U.S., completing its first journey.
The ship then carried oil from the Gulf of Mexico to Philadelphia. After that, it started transporting molasses. For example, in December 1922, it brought about 9,500 tons of molasses to Rotterdam. In March 1923, the Hammac and other tankers were sold to General Petroleum Corporation.
Renamed Emidio
After its sale, the ship sailed to San Francisco, arriving on June 15. It made one trip carrying gasoline to Philadelphia. Then, it returned to the West Coast and was renamed Emidio. The new name came from the San Emidio oil fields.
From 1923 to 1924, the Emidio mostly carried gasoline from California to London. It also made occasional trips up the West Coast. For example, in January 1924, it took 75,000 barrels of gasoline to London. In November 1924, it carried 66,000 barrels of oil to Seattle.
In 1925, the Emidio started working more on domestic routes. It carried oil and gasoline to ports on both the East and West Coasts of the United States. In 1926, General Petroleum merged with Standard Oil of New York. As a result, the Emidio became part of Standard Oil's fleet.
West Coast Service
Starting in August 1928, the Emidio mainly operated along the West Coast. It carried oil and petroleum products to cities like Seattle, Portland, and Tacoma. In January 1929, it also began making trips to Vancouver. The tanker continued this coastal service for most of its remaining career.
In August 1931, while sailing near Point Arguello, the Emidio hit an underwater rock. The ship managed to reach its destination, where it was repaired. It returned to service about a month later. In 1934, the Emidio traveled to the East Coast again. It carried nearly 9,500 tons of petroleum products to New York. It stayed in the Gulf to East Coast trade for about three months before returning to the West Coast.
Later Years
In May 1938, the Emidio made a trip to Hawaii. It arrived at Pearl Harbor with a cargo of fuel oil. In October 1938, the ship sailed with gasoline to Manila and Shanghai. It returned to the West Coast in December. The Emidio also carried fuel oil to Boston in 1939. While on the Atlantic, it transported petroleum products to and from Aruba.
In October 1939, it returned to Los Angeles with over 10,000 tons of fuel oil. In December, the tanker passed through the Panama Canal on its way to Curaçao. It carried 9,600 tons of kerosene from California. In early 1940, the Emidio made its final Atlantic voyage. It carried about 10,300 tons of fuel oil from Aruba to Los Angeles. After this, it went back to its coastal service in California.
In August 1940, a trip to Japan with oil was planned, but the United States Maritime Commission did not allow it. In October 1940, the Emidio made another trip to Pearl Harbor. This was during a time when naval facilities in Hawaii were being greatly expanded. In November 1940, it sailed with fuel oil to Manila. After returning in January 1941, it continued its coastal duties.
As World War II continued in Europe, and relations between the U.S. and Japan worsened, all General Petroleum tankers had American flags painted on their sides. This was to show they were neutral ships. By October 1941, the Emidio was the only General Petroleum tanker still working along the West Coast.
The Sinking of Emidio
The Emidio began its final journey from Seattle on December 18, 1941. It was heading to San Pedro. Captain Clark A. Farrow was in command, and the ship had a crew of 36. It was sailing empty after unloading its cargo in Seattle. The trip was calm until the afternoon of December 20.
Attack by Submarine
The Emidio was about 20 nautical miles (37 km) off Blunts Reef, near Cape Mendocino. Lookouts on the ship spotted a submarine. The captain quickly changed course and increased the ship's speed. However, the submarine also sped up and got very close to the tanker.
Around 3:15 PM, the Japanese submarine I-17 fired a shot at the Emidio. The captain ordered the crew to stop the ship and abandon it. At the same time, the radio operator sent an alert to the U.S. Navy. As the crew rushed to lower the lifeboats, the submarine kept firing its deck gun. It hit the tanker five times. One of the shells hit a lifeboat that hadn't been launched. Three crew members fell into the choppy water and drowned.
While the crew was leaving the ship, the submarine stopped firing and went underwater. Two planes arrived and dropped depth charges where the submarine was thought to be. The result of this attack is not known. After the planes left, the I-17 came back to the surface. It fired one torpedo at the tanker, hitting it in the back (stern). The torpedo went through the engine room and exploded. This killed two of the three men who were still working there.
Survivors and Wreck
Thirty-one survivors managed to get into two lifeboats and a workboat. They began rowing towards the shore. After almost sixteen hours at sea, they finally reached the Blunts Reef lightship in Humboldt Bay. There, the cutter Shawnee picked them up and took them to Eureka.
The Emidio was left sinking, with its stern underwater. However, the tanker stayed afloat and slowly drifted up the California coast. In early January 1942, it ran aground on rocks off Crescent City. The wreck eventually broke into two pieces. The front (bow) section drifted into the harbor and was later removed in 1959. The rest of the hull is still in the harbor and has a special commemorative plaque. The site where the Emidio sank is now a California Historical Landmark #497.
Awards for Bravery
Louis George Finch, a sailor on the SS Emidio, received the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal. This award was given by the President of the United States. He earned it for his amazing courage. He bravely went into the sea to help lighten an overloaded lifeboat, even though it was dangerous. He stayed in the water for an hour and a half until another lifeboat arrived. Admiral Emory S. Land presented the award on behalf of the President.
