SSSamtampa
 A Liberty ship at sea
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Peleg Wadsworth |
| Namesake | Peleg Wadsworth |
| Builder | New England Shipbuilding Corporation,South Portland, Maine |
| Yard number | 2203 |
| Way number | 2 |
| Laid down | 1 November 1943 |
| Launched | 12 December 1943 |
| Completed | 22 December 1943 |
| Fate | Sent to the UK under Lend-Lease, 1943 |
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | SSSamtampa |
| Operator | Houlder Line |
| Fate | Wrecked, 1947 |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Class and type | Type EC2-S-C1Liberty ship |
| Displacement | 14,245 long tons (14,474 t)[1] |
| Length | |
| Beam | 57 ft (17 m)[1] |
| Draft | 27 ft 9 in (8.46 m)[1] |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 11knots(20 km/h; 13 mph)[1] |
| Range | 20,000 nmi (37,000 km; 23,000 mi) |
| Capacity | 10,856 t (10,685 long tons)deadweight(DWT)[1] |
| Crew | 81[1] |
| Armament |
|
SSSamtampawas a 7,219 tonsteamshipwrecked onSker Point,offPorthcawlandKenfig,Wales,in theBristol Channelon 23 April 1947. At the time of the shipwreck, theSamtampawas operated by theHoulder Line.[2]
There were 47 fatalities in the incident, 39 from the ship and 8 volunteer crew of the lifeboat RNLBEdward, Prince of Wales(ON 678) fromThe Mumbles Lifeboat Stationwho died attempting to save the crew of theSamtampa.The lifeboat had returned to base, but had been sent out a second time. Anoil spillfrom the tanks of the wrecked ship created an area of calm water, which the lifeboat coxswain, William Gammon (previously a winner of theRNLI Gold Medal), attempted to use to their advantage to enable them to pull alongside, and those who died were choked by the oil rather than drowning.[3]The ship had sailed fromMiddlesbroughand most of the 39 crew hailed from the Teesside area.
A memorial to the victims of theSamtampatragedy is in Porthcawl Cemetery and a commemorative plaque can be found marking the "final resting place of The Mumbles lifeboat" at Sker Point. The location of the wreck was51°30′01″N03°44′26″W/ 51.50028°N 3.74056°W
In recognition of the sixtieth anniversary, a church service took place in Porthcawl on Saturday 21 April followed by a smaller service at Sker Point. On Sunday 23rd April 2022, Porthcawl Runners hosted a 75th anniversary fun run on Mumbles Seafront. A year later, they held a similar run at Porthcawl Promenade, slightly longer in length, but with twice as many entrants. So, far the events have raised over £3000 for the RNLI and it is hoped that with its growing popularity, the event will take place every year.[4]
TheSamtampahad been launched as theSSPeleg Wadsworth,aliberty shipbuilt by theNew England Shipbuilding CorporationatSouth Portland, Maine,and launched on 12 December 1943.[5]Sent to Britain under theLend-Leaseprogram, the ship was renamed, and managed by the Houlder Line on behalf of the Ministry of War Transport.[6]
References[edit]
- ^abcdefgDavies, James (2012)."Liberty Cargo Ships"(PDF).ww2ships.com.p. 23.Retrieved6 May2012.
- ^"Houlder Line / Alexander SS Co".theshipslist.com.2010. Archived fromthe originalon 25 June 2010.Retrieved13 May2012.
- ^The Past Master,BBC Radio Wales
- ^"Tribute for 1947 Mumbles disaster".BBC News.London:BBC.23 April 2007.Retrieved13 May2012.
- ^"New England Shipbuilding".shipbuildinghistory.com.2011.Retrieved13 May2012.
- ^"Liberty Ships (" S ")".mariners-l.co.uk.2011.Retrieved13 May2012.
