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New Jersey Wreck Dives - Gulf Trade |
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| Ship's Name | The Gulf Trade |
| Owner's | Gulf Oil Company |
| Design | 6,776 ton tanker, built in 1920, 423' long, 59' beam |
| Circumstances |
The GULFTRADE was bound for New York out of
Port Arthur, Texas with a cargo of oil. She had been traveling under
blackout conditions to avoid the German U-boats which were prowling the
Atlantic coast. At 11 PM on March 9, 1942, Captain Torger Olsen of the
GULFTRADE ordered the ship's running lights turned on because there were
several large ships in close proximity, and at the time he feared a
collision more than a stalking U-boat. There was a heavy sea running
with a strong southwest wind and by the time she had cleared the
traffic, the GULFTRADE was only a few miles off of Barnegat. Captain
Olsen decided to leave the ship's running lights on, reasoning that no
U-boats would come after them that close to shore. "I made a mistake," Captain Olson would later say. At 12:40 AM a single torpedo struck the GULFTRADE between the bridge and the main mast, splitting the vessel in two. As Captain Olsen looked out on his vessel from the bridge, he saw the flames from the explosion almost immediately extinguished by a mercifully large wave. Both sections of the ship remained afloat. Captain Olsen was on the stern section and cast off in a lifeboat with six of his crew. Nine others on the stern decided to remain on the floating stern rather than challenge the angry sea in a small lifeboat. All 16 men aboard the stern section would be rescued. The men on the bow section set out in two lifeboats, then disappeared. Eighteen men lost their lives. During the winter of 1942 the U-boats were in all their glory. Soon, advancing technology and an increased effort by coastal ships and planes would have the U-boats on the run. The following are some of the vessels sunk by U-boats off the Jersey coast in the winter of '42: COIMBRA, NORNESS, CAYRU, TOLTEN, R.P. RESOR, HARRY RUSE, LEMUEL BURROWS, CHINA ARROW, INDIA ARROW, GYPSUM PRINCE, VARENGER, and the USS JACOB JONES. |
| Location | 14 miles off Barnegat. The bow went down 11 miles inshore of the stern. |
| Depths | Just over 90' at the sand. Relief is 20-25 from the bottom in some spots. |
| Condtions | Portions partially intact. Scattered debris. |
| Goodies | This is a good wreck for lobster. Don't be surprised if you see some brass. |
| Cautions | 1. Watch your time
and depth. Plan up to 100' tables. 2. Ascend on the anchor line. 3. Penetrations can not be recommended. |
| Photo |
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Sea Dwellers of New Jersey 231 Herbert Avenue, Closter, NJ 07624 201-564-7571 Fax 201-564-7572 email: info@SeaDwellersNJ.com |
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