U.S. Merchant Marine
Service No. Z 265808
Award: Mariner's Medal
Address of Record: New York, New York
On Aug 17, 1942, the MS Louisiana, an American tanker, was enroute from Trinidad to Rio De Janeiro. Edward John Knipe had signed on as 'Messman' and was on board as the unescorted ship, with a cargo of 92.5 barrels of gasoline, sailed a zigzag course. The ship was armed with two .50cal guns and a 4in gun on the stern, and an 8-man U.S. Navy Armed Guard crew was on board to man them.
At some point, German submarine U-108 had spied the tanker and stalked it until they were about 200 miles from Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana (now known as Suriname). The u-boat fired a spread of three torpedoes, one of which hit forward of the bridge. Distress signals were immediately sent out while Louisiana increased speed. The u-boat surfaced and gave chase while the Armed Guards began firing at the sub with the 4 inch stern gun. A Norwegian merchant ship approached, and not understanding Louisiana's signals, it passed between the tanker and the sub. Later, an airplane flew over and dropped a bomb, but the u-boat submerged and the bomb missed. Around midnight, two torpedoes were fired and both hit, causing flames to totally consume the tanker as it sank, bow first. Although three men had been seen to abandon ship on a raft during the chase, they were not found by rescue vessels.
There were 41 Merchant Mariners and 8 Naval Armed Guards on board, none survived.
Service No. Z 265808
Award: Mariner's Medal
Address of Record: New York, New York
On Aug 17, 1942, the MS Louisiana, an American tanker, was enroute from Trinidad to Rio De Janeiro. Edward John Knipe had signed on as 'Messman' and was on board as the unescorted ship, with a cargo of 92.5 barrels of gasoline, sailed a zigzag course. The ship was armed with two .50cal guns and a 4in gun on the stern, and an 8-man U.S. Navy Armed Guard crew was on board to man them.
At some point, German submarine U-108 had spied the tanker and stalked it until they were about 200 miles from Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana (now known as Suriname). The u-boat fired a spread of three torpedoes, one of which hit forward of the bridge. Distress signals were immediately sent out while Louisiana increased speed. The u-boat surfaced and gave chase while the Armed Guards began firing at the sub with the 4 inch stern gun. A Norwegian merchant ship approached, and not understanding Louisiana's signals, it passed between the tanker and the sub. Later, an airplane flew over and dropped a bomb, but the u-boat submerged and the bomb missed. Around midnight, two torpedoes were fired and both hit, causing flames to totally consume the tanker as it sank, bow first. Although three men had been seen to abandon ship on a raft during the chase, they were not found by rescue vessels.
There were 41 Merchant Mariners and 8 Naval Armed Guards on board, none survived.
U.S. Merchant Marine
Service No. Z 265808
Award: Mariner's Medal
Address of Record: New York, New York
On Aug 17, 1942, the MS Louisiana, an American tanker, was enroute from Trinidad to Rio De Janeiro. Edward John Knipe had signed on as 'Messman' and was on board as the unescorted ship, with a cargo of 92.5 barrels of gasoline, sailed a zigzag course. The ship was armed with two .50cal guns and a 4in gun on the stern, and an 8-man U.S. Navy Armed Guard crew was on board to man them.
At some point, German submarine U-108 had spied the tanker and stalked it until they were about 200 miles from Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana (now known as Suriname). The u-boat fired a spread of three torpedoes, one of which hit forward of the bridge. Distress signals were immediately sent out while Louisiana increased speed. The u-boat surfaced and gave chase while the Armed Guards began firing at the sub with the 4 inch stern gun. A Norwegian merchant ship approached, and not understanding Louisiana's signals, it passed between the tanker and the sub. Later, an airplane flew over and dropped a bomb, but the u-boat submerged and the bomb missed. Around midnight, two torpedoes were fired and both hit, causing flames to totally consume the tanker as it sank, bow first. Although three men had been seen to abandon ship on a raft during the chase, they were not found by rescue vessels.
There were 41 Merchant Mariners and 8 Naval Armed Guards on board, none survived.
Service No. Z 265808
Award: Mariner's Medal
Address of Record: New York, New York
On Aug 17, 1942, the MS Louisiana, an American tanker, was enroute from Trinidad to Rio De Janeiro. Edward John Knipe had signed on as 'Messman' and was on board as the unescorted ship, with a cargo of 92.5 barrels of gasoline, sailed a zigzag course. The ship was armed with two .50cal guns and a 4in gun on the stern, and an 8-man U.S. Navy Armed Guard crew was on board to man them.
At some point, German submarine U-108 had spied the tanker and stalked it until they were about 200 miles from Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana (now known as Suriname). The u-boat fired a spread of three torpedoes, one of which hit forward of the bridge. Distress signals were immediately sent out while Louisiana increased speed. The u-boat surfaced and gave chase while the Armed Guards began firing at the sub with the 4 inch stern gun. A Norwegian merchant ship approached, and not understanding Louisiana's signals, it passed between the tanker and the sub. Later, an airplane flew over and dropped a bomb, but the u-boat submerged and the bomb missed. Around midnight, two torpedoes were fired and both hit, causing flames to totally consume the tanker as it sank, bow first. Although three men had been seen to abandon ship on a raft during the chase, they were not found by rescue vessels.
There were 41 Merchant Mariners and 8 Naval Armed Guards on board, none survived.
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