| ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ORANJESTAD |
| THIS INFORMATION WAS SUPPLIED BY LARRY RIGGS AND I HAVE ADDED ADDED IT TO THE WEB SITE BECAUSE I FOUND IT INTERESTING, I HOPE OTHERS DO ALSO. |
Recovery Project: Propeller From Lake Tanker SS Oranjestad Torpedoed On February 16, 1942 By German U-boat 156 The Following Excerpt Taken From The Book, "German U-Boat 156 Brought War To Aruba, February 16, 1942." Author: William C. Hochstuhl The second officer burst into the captain's quarters and roused Hertbert Morgan, master of the lake tanker SS Oranjestad, from sleep. He excitedly told him the SS Pedernales was afire. Morgan's reply was immediate and terse: "Prepare to weigh anchor!" Morgan quickly drew on his trousers and raced out of his cabin. When he reached the ship's lower bridge he was blinded by a flash. His ship listed immediately and fire consumed the entire vessel. Her back had been broken and she started to sink. Morgan returned to his cabin to get his life jacket. He scrambled to the ship's starboard side and was flung back by a sheet of flame. He attempted to cross the ship but fell and was pitched back to the flaming starboard quarters. The fall fractured his ribs, but desperation overrode any pain. With three mates he made his way to the bow of the ruptured ship. The four men huddled together on a small section of the bow that had not caught fire. The men signaled for help but were never recognized. The Oranjestad settled gradually. About an hour after she was hit, the Oranjestad slipped beneath the water's surface. The captain and his associates were washed off their perch. All had life jackets except the second officer who was lost. The men were retrieved from the oily sea at about 0330 hours by a Dutch patrol boat. Fifteen lost their lives in those early morning hours while ten survived. |