US WWII, Navy Document, Sinking of the SS Corinth, by Japanese Submarine 3/18/45
This item is listed for historical interest only. It was listed on our site previously but has been sold and is no longer available for purchase.
Sold for: $45.00

Original period manufacture. An interesting document, being a hand typed official account of the sinking of the Keystone Shipping Company's Oil Tanker, SS Corinth. Sunk on the 18th of March 1945, (presumably by Japanese submarine) while enroute from Balboa C.Z. (Canal Zone) to Eniwetok, Marshall Islands.The account was given by Thomas Swilley, Lt. USNR, commander of the Naval Armed Guard detachment aboard the Corinth.Lookouts spotted the sub at 1740 hours on the 18th of March, it was unidentifiable, no markings or flag, and it gave no signal of recognition to the Corinth. The ship's captain swung her stern around to present a smaller target; Lt. Swilley opened fire with his bow gun at 1745 hours at a range of 5000 yards, firing four rounds as the ship turned. He next engaged the sub with his stern gun once the turn was completed, firing an additional four rounds at the same distance. He noted that all of the projectiles fell short, and the submarine submerged. At 1748 the ship was hit with a torpedo in the fantail, several explosions occurred and the cargo ignited. At 1800 the order to abandon ship was given, and the crew took to the rafts. On 22 March the survivors were picked up by the SS Yankee Sword, and taken to San Pedro California. Should be an interesting research project to fill in the details.