Story




The Captain's Report


CONFIDENTIAL

T TD/139/1489
9th October, 1942



SHIPPING HEADQUARTERS SECTION – TRADE DIVISION

REPORT OF AN INTERVIEW WITH THE MASTER CAPTAIN H.B. BENTLEY

S.S. EMPIRE MICA

INDEPENDENT

8,032 GROSS TONS

SUNK BY TWO
TORPEDOES FROM U-
BOAT ON JUNE 29th, 1942



CAPTAIN H.B. BENTLEY



We sailed from Pensacola bound for Key West with a cargo of 11,000 tons of vapourizing oil: We were armed with 1 4”, 1 – 12 pounder, 2 Hotchkiss, 2 Marlins, 2 Lewis guns, 2 P.A.C’s, and Kites. We had a crew of 47 including 4 Naval gunners and 2 Army gunners. Thirty-three of the crew are missing and two were injured. All confidential books, including the wireless were in a weighted box, it was impossible to reach them owing to the fire and they were lost with the ship. Degaussing was on.

2. We sailed from Pensacola Bay A.M. on 28th June and proceeded to Panama City sailing as close in shore as safe navigation permitted. On approaching St. Andrew’s Bay, Panama City I received a message from the pilot informing me that there was insufficient water for the vessel to enter the harbour so still keeping close in shore I rounded Cape San Blas, and steered various courses on the route to 095o. We proceeded without incident until the attack in the early hours of the 29th June.

3. On the 29th June at 0045 when in a position 10’ S from Cape St. George on Florida Coast on a course 095 (approx.) speed 13 knots we were struck by two torpedoes. It was a brilliant moonlight night, the weather was fine and visibility good, there was a slight wind force 2 or 3.

4. The submarine was sighted on the port beam by two lookout men on the bridge, but before any action could be taken the ship was struck amidships, and a few seconds later the second torpedo struck her somewhere before the poop. The whole after part of the vessel immediately caught fire and in a short time was a raging furnace. The after deck appeared to have been opened up and it was impossible to communicate in any way with the men aft, they managed to get some of the after boats into the water but could not get on to them as the water into which they were lowered was ablaze. I did not see any of the men from the after part of the vessel again, except the Greaser who jumped off the starboard quarter over the flames, he reached the water without being burned. The after end of the Bridge deck and two cabins were also in flames. The Chief, 2nd and 4th Engineers were picked up about an hour later by the only boat which succeeded in getting clear. They had escaped through the forward porthole of the 2nd Engineers cabin, being assisted by 2nd Officer C. Sydney whilst this cabin was actually on fire. The 5th Engineer and the Chief Steward were not seen and I believed them to have been killed by the first explosion. The entire Captain’s quarters, Chart Room, Wireless Office and Bridge were completely wrecked and quickly burst into flames. All Confidential books and ship’s papers were lost as it as not possible to re-enter the Chart Room in the fierce fire. The only survivors appeared to be those actually on watch or at hand amid-ships. The two after lifeboats were launched but blazing oil surrounded the stern and forced the men in them back on board, only the Greaser Armstrong escaped from the part of the ship by diving over the flames into a patch of clear water.

5. The 3rd Engineer Mr. J. Steel remained at his post in the engine room and stopped the engines, thus enabling us to lower the starboard boat in which we escaped. He did manage to get into one of the after boats which was on fire and he lost his life in the flames. The Chief Officer MacIlwirth, was thrown out of the boat as she was being lowered and drifted towards the after part of the ship into the flames and there was no means of saving him. It was through his initiative and quick action that this boat was able to get away from the ship. The 2nd Officer C. Sydney behaved magnificently, he remained on deck with the forward fall of the boat in his hand the after fall being now on fire and could not be approached, so when the after fall had burned through the 2nd Officer let go the forward fall thus allowing the boat to fall into the sea. It was through his judgement in letting go this fall that the boat landed safely in the water right side up. Once this boat was launched it was a race against time to haul it forward in order to take off three or four men who were huddled against the break of the forecastle head with flames all round them. One of the men jumped from the Bridge onto the deck and fractured his heels. The explosion knocked me unconscious and broke my nose. Amongst the survivors were the 2nd and 3rd Officers, Chief Engineer, 2nd and 4th Engineers, and 3 Radio Officers.

6. We got clear of the ship in less than 5 minutes, and were picked up by an American Coast Guard Cutter at approximately 0600. The flames of the ship had been seen from a village 45 miles away and they had informed the Naval authorities. We were landed at a small village called Apalachicola and from there seven officers and men were taken to Panama City Hospital, I cannot speak too highly of the treatment and kindness all hands received at both these places.

7. I wish to pay special tribute to 3rd Engineer J. Steel who by his courageous action in remaining in the engine room in order to shut off the steam enabled the boat in which we escaped to be launched. Also to the magnificent behaviour of 2nd Officer C. Sydney who assisted the Chief Engineer H. Rose in pulling the 2nd and 4th Engineers through the port hole of the 2nd Engineer’s cabin thus saving their lives and for his cool and gallant action in remaining quietly by the forward fall of the boat until the after fall had burned through and was responsible for this boat ever reaching the water. I should also like to pay tribute to the splendid work and initiative of Chief Officer MacIlwirth in clearing away and preparing his boat for lowering. Up to the time this Officer lost his life, he set a fine example of cool initiative.



MY OWN INPUT


The Captain calls his cargo vapourizing oil, this is an old name for kerosene.

I have some issues with this report, some of these issues I will list here:

1. In paragraph 4, the Captain's report reads:
"The Chief, 2nd and 4th Engineers were picked up about an hour later by the only boat which succeeded in getting clear".
These men were not picked up an hour after the attack, but were in the same lifeboat as the Captain as it was lowered.

2. In paragraph 5,the Captain's report reads:
"The 3rd Engineer Mr. J. Steel remained at his post in the engine room and stopped the engines, thus enabling us to lower the starboard boat in which we escaped. He did manage to get into one of the after boats which was on fire and he lost his life in the flames."
As the Captain was up at the forecastle, I can not understand how the Captain saw my grandfather (J.Steele), at the rear of the ship. The whole afterpart of the ship was a raging inferno, so how could he possible see who was at the rear of the ship through the flames and smoke, and from such a distance away.

3. Also in paragraph 5,the Captain's report reads:
"Once this boat was launched it was a race against time to haul it forward in order to take off three or four men who were huddled against the break of the forecastle head with flames all round them".
It is my understanding that these men were also in the lifeboat before it was lowered into the water.

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