Papoose
(the shipwreck called the Papoose)
above is the Papoose, below is the W.E. Hutton
For many years this dive site has been known as the Papoose, but more recently evidence has come to light that this wreck site is most likely the W.E. Hutton. You will find the information about wreck site and both ships below.
Dive Site Info
Diving Depths: 90-120ft.
Visibility: 50-100ft.
Summer Temperature: high 70s to lo 80s
The Papoose is a large wreck which sits on the bottom intact and virtually upside down. The Papoose can be penetrated at several points. The sharks like to hang out at the ends of the wreck.
Diving Depths: 90-120ft.
Visibility: 50-100ft.
Summer Temperature: high 70s to lo 80s
The Papoose is a large wreck which sits on the bottom intact and virtually upside down. The Papoose can be penetrated at several points. The sharks like to hang out at the ends of the wreck.
PAPOOSE
Type: Tanker
Built: 1921
Owner: Petroleum Navigation Company, Houston TX
Home Port: Houston, TX
Size: 412ft long
Propulsion: Single screw reciprocating steam engine/speed 10 knts
Date Sunk: torpedoed by the German U-124 on 3/18/1942 and sunk 3/19/1942
Type: Tanker
Built: 1921
Owner: Petroleum Navigation Company, Houston TX
Home Port: Houston, TX
Size: 412ft long
Propulsion: Single screw reciprocating steam engine/speed 10 knts
Date Sunk: torpedoed by the German U-124 on 3/18/1942 and sunk 3/19/1942
On the night of March 18, 1942, the Papoose was traveling southward, alone and unarmed, as she rounded Cape Lookout. Captain Roger Zalnick was following the recommendations from US Naval Routing Center and traveling as close to shore as possible. He wasn't on a zig-zag course as he wanted to pass thru "torpedo junction" as quickly as possible, but he was traveling blacked-out. The Papoose was en-route from Providence, RI to Port Arthur, TX, traveling "in ballast" (empty), to pick up a load of fuel oil.
The first torpedo struck at 9:35pm on the port side of the ship at stern end below the poop deck. The explosion penetrated the fuel tanks and ruptured the engine room bulkheads. Two crew members were killed in the explosion. Engines stopped and water rose to the cylinder heads in approximately 4 minutes. The Papoose slowly glided to a stop as the Captain ordered lifeboats lowered. The crew were #1 and #3 lifeboats for only a few minutes when the phosphorescent stream of a second torpedo passed near the lifeboats and hit the drifting tanker on the starboard side aft of the midships. It tore open a large hole at the water line and the tanker started to settle down at the stern, rolling to the starboard side.
The captain ordered the lifeboats to start rowing towards land and the burning torch of the tanker W.E. Hutton, also a victim of the U-124, sinking on the horizon. At 0730 on the 19th, the survivors of the Papoose were picked up by the destroyer USS Stringham (DD-83/APD-6) and taken to Norfolk, VA.
The first torpedo struck at 9:35pm on the port side of the ship at stern end below the poop deck. The explosion penetrated the fuel tanks and ruptured the engine room bulkheads. Two crew members were killed in the explosion. Engines stopped and water rose to the cylinder heads in approximately 4 minutes. The Papoose slowly glided to a stop as the Captain ordered lifeboats lowered. The crew were #1 and #3 lifeboats for only a few minutes when the phosphorescent stream of a second torpedo passed near the lifeboats and hit the drifting tanker on the starboard side aft of the midships. It tore open a large hole at the water line and the tanker started to settle down at the stern, rolling to the starboard side.
The captain ordered the lifeboats to start rowing towards land and the burning torch of the tanker W.E. Hutton, also a victim of the U-124, sinking on the horizon. At 0730 on the 19th, the survivors of the Papoose were picked up by the destroyer USS Stringham (DD-83/APD-6) and taken to Norfolk, VA.
W.E. HUTTON
Type: Tanker
Built: 1920
Owner: Pure Oil Company
Home Port: Baltimore, MD
Size: 453ft
Propulsion: Single screw reciprocating steam engine/speed 10.0 knts
Date Sunk: Torpedoed by German U-124 on 3/18/42
Type: Tanker
Built: 1920
Owner: Pure Oil Company
Home Port: Baltimore, MD
Size: 453ft
Propulsion: Single screw reciprocating steam engine/speed 10.0 knts
Date Sunk: Torpedoed by German U-124 on 3/18/42
The W.E. Hutton was traveling from Smith's Bluff, TX to Marcus Hook, PA with 65,000 barrels of #2 heating oil. Inspite of the u-boat threat, she was traveling unarmed and alone, but her master, Captain Carl Flaathen, had taken the precaution of running with lights out and black-out curtains engaged. But against a shrewd and experienced u-boat captain like KL Mohr of the U-124 this was not enough. At 10:10pm, on 3/18/1942, a torpedo slammed into the bow, on the starboard side blowing out the forepeak. The Hutton started listing to the starboard side, but was staying afloat and making headway. The captain made the decision to try to make ashore where he could beach his wounded tanker. Eight minutes later, the U-124 launched another torpedo, this time with greater affect. It slammed into the port side at the #3 tank right below the midships house. The Hutton's midships quickly became a blazing inferno. Rafts and lifeboats were launched as the crew started abandoning the stricken tanker in order to escape the flames. At 10:45pm, with its captain watching from a lifeboat, the Hutton sank bow first. Although spread across two lifeboats and two life rafts, the 23 survivors had the good sense to stay together during the night. At dawn of the 19th, the all gathered into one lifeboat and started rowing their way to shore. They were picked up at 10:35am by the MS Port Halifax and taken to the Savannah, GA sea buoy where they were transferred to a pilot boat and taken ashore. 13 crew were killed in the attack.