Pan Kraft
Encyclopedia
Pan Kraft was a cargo ship built in 1919 by the Western Pipe and Steel Company
of California
. She was one of eighteen ships built by the company for the U.S. Shipping Board. After merchant service between the wars, she was to become one of the victims of Great Britain
's disastrous Convoy PQ-17
to Russia
during World War II
.
and the Far East
on January 8, 1920, and in August of the same year made a trip to Cork
, Ireland
. From April 1920 to April 1928, West Kader continued to operate from Portland, Oregon to China, Japan, Russia, the Philippines and Hong Kong.
On June 4, 1928, West Kader was sold by the U.S. Shipping Board to the States Steamship Company of Portland, Oregon, who renamed her New York. Her homeport remained Portland until 1937 when she was sold to the Everett Steamship Company of Mobile, Alabama
, who renamed her Pan Kraft and homeported her in Mobile.
Pan Kraft was acquired by Pan Atlantic Steamship Corporation in 1939 though her homeport remained Mobile, but after Waterman Steamship became manager of the vessel, she was re-homeported in Wilmington, Delaware
.
's entry into the war, Pan Kraft was assigned a delivery of military equipment to the Soviet Union
under the US-Soviet lend-lease
agreement. With a deck full of planes and cargo holds full of crated aircraft, Pan Kraft made the first leg of her journey from New York
to Hvalfjordur, Iceland
, where she joined with other merchant vessels and a Royal Navy
escort to form Convoy PQ-17
. The convoy departed for the Russian port of Arkangelsk on June 24, 1942.
On July 4, the commander of PQ-17's naval escort was informed that the German battleship Tirpitz
was on course to intercept. He made the fateful decision to scatter the convoy, with disastrous results. German U-boat
s and aircraft were able to pick off the isolated ships with ease, sinking 25 of the convoy's 36 merchant vessels and putting PQ-17 into the record books as the greatest Russia-bound convoy loss of the war.
Pan Kraft was not to be one of the fortunate few to escape. On July 5 she was attacked in the Barents Sea
by Junkers Ju-88 bombers, and though she did not suffer a direct hit, her oil and steam lines were ruptured and she had to be abandoned. The convoy escort HMS Lotus
then attempted without success to sink the disabled vessel, but at 6 am on July 7 Pan Kraft finally sank after suffering an internal explosion.
Two more of the convoy's ships were sunk on the return journey.
Western Pipe and Steel Company
The Western Pipe and Steel Company was an American manufacturing company that is best remembered today for its construction of ships for the Maritime Commission in World War II. It also built ships for the U.S...
of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. She was one of eighteen ships built by the company for the U.S. Shipping Board. After merchant service between the wars, she was to become one of the victims of Great Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's disastrous Convoy PQ-17
Convoy PQ-17
PQ 17 was the code name for an Allied World War II convoy in the Arctic Ocean. In July 1942, the Arctic convoys suffered a significant defeat when Convoy PQ 17 lost 24 of its 35 merchant ships during a series of heavy enemy daylight attacks which lasted a week. On 27 June, the ships sailed...
to Russia
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Operational history
Pan Kraft was launched as West Kader on July 2, 1919 and delivered to the Shipping Board on December 31, 1919. She made her maiden voyage between Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
and the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
on January 8, 1920, and in August of the same year made a trip to Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. From April 1920 to April 1928, West Kader continued to operate from Portland, Oregon to China, Japan, Russia, the Philippines and Hong Kong.
On June 4, 1928, West Kader was sold by the U.S. Shipping Board to the States Steamship Company of Portland, Oregon, who renamed her New York. Her homeport remained Portland until 1937 when she was sold to the Everett Steamship Company of Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, who renamed her Pan Kraft and homeported her in Mobile.
Pan Kraft was acquired by Pan Atlantic Steamship Corporation in 1939 though her homeport remained Mobile, but after Waterman Steamship became manager of the vessel, she was re-homeported in Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
.
Convoy PQ-17
Following the outbreak of World War II and AmericaUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
's entry into the war, Pan Kraft was assigned a delivery of military equipment to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
under the US-Soviet lend-lease
Lend-Lease
Lend-Lease was the program under which the United States of America supplied the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, China, Free France, and other Allied nations with materiel between 1941 and 1945. It was signed into law on March 11, 1941, a year and a half after the outbreak of war in Europe in...
agreement. With a deck full of planes and cargo holds full of crated aircraft, Pan Kraft made the first leg of her journey from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to Hvalfjordur, Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, where she joined with other merchant vessels and a Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
escort to form Convoy PQ-17
Convoy PQ-17
PQ 17 was the code name for an Allied World War II convoy in the Arctic Ocean. In July 1942, the Arctic convoys suffered a significant defeat when Convoy PQ 17 lost 24 of its 35 merchant ships during a series of heavy enemy daylight attacks which lasted a week. On 27 June, the ships sailed...
. The convoy departed for the Russian port of Arkangelsk on June 24, 1942.
On July 4, the commander of PQ-17's naval escort was informed that the German battleship Tirpitz
German battleship Tirpitz
Tirpitz was the second of two s built for the German Kriegsmarine during World War II. Named after Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpitz, the architect of the Imperial Navy, the ship was laid down at the Kriegsmarinewerft in Wilhelmshaven in November 1936 and launched two and a half years later in April...
was on course to intercept. He made the fateful decision to scatter the convoy, with disastrous results. German U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
s and aircraft were able to pick off the isolated ships with ease, sinking 25 of the convoy's 36 merchant vessels and putting PQ-17 into the record books as the greatest Russia-bound convoy loss of the war.
Pan Kraft was not to be one of the fortunate few to escape. On July 5 she was attacked in the Barents Sea
Barents Sea
The Barents Sea is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, located north of Norway and Russia. Known in the Middle Ages as the Murman Sea, the sea takes its current name from the Dutch navigator Willem Barents...
by Junkers Ju-88 bombers, and though she did not suffer a direct hit, her oil and steam lines were ruptured and she had to be abandoned. The convoy escort HMS Lotus
HMS Lotus (K130)
HMS Lotus was a Flower-class corvette that served in the Royal Navy.She was built by Henry Robb Limited, of Leith, Scotland and launched on 16 January 1942. Originally named HMS Phlox, she was renamed in April 1942 after the previous HMS Lotus was transferred to the Free French Navy...
then attempted without success to sink the disabled vessel, but at 6 am on July 7 Pan Kraft finally sank after suffering an internal explosion.
Two more of the convoy's ships were sunk on the return journey.