SS s'Jacob
Encyclopedia
The SS s'Jacob was a Dutch
freighter built by Maatschappij Fijenoord, Rotterdam
, Netherlands
in 1907, of 2484 gross weight and operated by Koninklijke Paketvaart-Maatschappij
which was sunk off Papua New Guinea
on 8 March 1943 during World War II
.
After being requistioned as part of the war effort, s'Jacob was upgraded and a 4inch naval gun was mounted aft.
The s'Jacob was part of a convoy, as part of Operation Lilliput
, transporting troops, weapons, and supplies from Milne Bay
to Oro Bay
. On 8 March 1943, as s'Jacob rounded Cape Nelson
, nine high-flying Imperial Japanese bombers attacked her near Porlock Bay
. The planes scored three direct bomb hits and at least 15 near misses which caused serious structural damage and wounded several merchant man aboard. A large fire started on the foreship and with the water pumps shutting down preventing any effort to extinguish the fire, the order was given to abandon ship. All those aboard had to jump overboard and clung to wreckage. 158 men were picked up by the Australian corvette HMAS Bendigo. Within 18 minutes after the attack s'Jacob slid under the waves. 5 men were lost in the sinking, including Private George Watson
, who remained in the water and instead of trying to save himself, assisted soldiers who could not swim into life rafts. George Watson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor
.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
freighter built by Maatschappij Fijenoord, Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in 1907, of 2484 gross weight and operated by Koninklijke Paketvaart-Maatschappij
Koninklijke Paketvaart-Maatschappij
Koninklijke Paketvaart-Maatschappij was a Dutch shipping company in the Dutch East Indies....
which was sunk off Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
on 8 March 1943 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...
.
After being requistioned as part of the war effort, s'Jacob was upgraded and a 4inch naval gun was mounted aft.
The s'Jacob was part of a convoy, as part of Operation Lilliput
Operation Lilliput
Operation Lilliput was the name given to a convoy operation that transported troops, weapons, and supplies from Milne Bay to Oro Bay, New Guinea between December 1942 and June 1943 during World War II....
, transporting troops, weapons, and supplies from Milne Bay
Milne Bay
Milne Bay is a large bay in Milne Bay Province, southeastern Papua New Guinea. The bay is named after Sir Alexander Milne.The area was a site of the Battle of Milne Bay in 1942....
to Oro Bay
Oro Bay
Oro Bay is a bay in Oro Province, Papua New Guinea, located southeast of Buna. The bay is located within the larger Dyke Ackland Bay. A port is operated by PNG Ports Corporation Limited with limited wharf facilities.-History:...
. On 8 March 1943, as s'Jacob rounded Cape Nelson
Cape Nelson (Papua New Guinea)
Cape Nelson is a cape on the north coast of Oro Province, Papua New Guinea. The cape was named by Captain John Moresby after Lord Horatio Nelson....
, nine high-flying Imperial Japanese bombers attacked her near Porlock Bay
Porlock Bay, Papua New Guinea
Porlock Bay is a bay within Dyke Ackland Bay, Oro Province of Papua New Guinea named by Captain John Moresby after Porlock Bay in Somerset, England....
. The planes scored three direct bomb hits and at least 15 near misses which caused serious structural damage and wounded several merchant man aboard. A large fire started on the foreship and with the water pumps shutting down preventing any effort to extinguish the fire, the order was given to abandon ship. All those aboard had to jump overboard and clung to wreckage. 158 men were picked up by the Australian corvette HMAS Bendigo. Within 18 minutes after the attack s'Jacob slid under the waves. 5 men were lost in the sinking, including Private George Watson
George Watson (U.S. Army)
George Watson was a private in the United States Army who was killed in action during World War II. He was one of seven African American soldiers to receive the Medal of Honor for their actions during World War II, and the only one of the seven to earn his medal while serving in the Pacific...
, who remained in the water and instead of trying to save himself, assisted soldiers who could not swim into life rafts. George Watson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
.