SS Gulfwave

SS Gulfwave (1937–1959) was a Gulf Oil Corporation tanker built by Bethlehem Steel Company, Sparrows Point, Maryland delivered on 1 December 1937.[4] Gulfwave was launched 9 October 1937 as the third of four tankers built at Sparrows Point for Gulf Oil. The construction made greater use of welding than the previous two tankers of the series.[5]

History
Name:
  • Gulfwave
  • Michael J. (Liberian 1956)
Owner:
  • Gulf Oil Corporation (Pa.) (1937–1956)
  • Unknown (1956–1959)
Yard number: 4324
Launched: 9 October 1937
Completed: 1 December 1937 (Delivered)
Identification:
  • Official Number: 236882
  • Signal letters: WPPL
Fate: Scrapped 1959
General characteristics [1][2]
Tonnage:
Length:
Beam: 64.2 ft (19.6 m)
Draft: 27 ft 6 in (8.4 m) design draft
Depth: 34 ft (10.4 m)
Installed power: General Electric double reduction geared turbines, 3,000 shaft horsepower
Speed: 12 kn (14 mph; 22 km/h).
Capacity: 83,836 barrels capacity[3]
Crew: 42

Gulfwave was 442 ft (134.7 m) length overall, 426.4 ft (130.0 m) registered length, 64.2 ft (19.6 m) beam with a design draft of 27 ft 6 in (8.4 m).[2][5] Propulsion was by a set of General Electric double reduction geared turbines, developing about 3,000 shaft horsepower, driving a single 17 ft 6 in (5.3 m) propeller for a speed of about 12 kn (14 mph; 22 km/h).[5]

The tanker operated with the Gulf Oil fleet until taken by the War Shipping Administration for World War II on 20 April 1942 and operated by the company under a United States Army agreement, revised to a time charter 29 June 1944, until 20 November 1945 when the ship was returned from Army operations to company operations.[3]

On 1 March 1943 the ship was torpedoed by IJN submarine I-10 under the command of Commander Kinzo Tonozuka IJN[6] south of Tonga at 20 30S-174 45E. Gulfwave arrived at Suva, Fiji under her own power and suffered no casualties to either her merchant crew or the Armed Guard. Temporary repairs are made at Suva. Gulfwave arrived in Pago Pago 29 March 1943 for further repairs. Left 5/13/1943 for Hawaii. Permanent repairs were made at Portland.[7][8]

Gulfwave was sold to Liberian interests in January 1956, renamed Michael J. and scrapped in 1959.[3][4]

References
  1. , 1937 Llyods Register Listing of the Glufwave
  2. Merchant Vessels of the United States, Year ended June 30, 1939. Washington, D.C.: Department of Commerce, Bureau of Marine Inspection & Navigation. 1939. p. 35.
  3. Maritime Administration. "Gulfwave". Ship History Database Vessel Status Card. U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration.
  4. Colton, Tim (October 5, 2014). "Bethlehem Steel Company, Sparrows Point MD". ShipbuildingHistory.
  5. "Tanker Launched at Sparrows Point". Pacific Marine Review. Vol. 34 no. 11. November 1937. p. 51.
  6. , Data about the Japanese submarine I-10
  7. , A WWII history
  8. , A WWII history
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