R.P. Resor (ship)

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Career
The R.P. Resor sinking, February 28, 1942.
Nationality:	American
Owners:	Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, New York, NY
Builders:	Federal Ship Building and Dry Dock, Co. of Kearny, NJ
Captain:	Unknown
Port of registry:	Wilmington, Delaware
Laid down:	February 28, 1942
Launched:	1936
Christened:	Not christened
Maiden voyage:	April 10, 1912
Fate:	Torpedoed by U-578 (Korvettenkapitan Rehwinkel)
General Characteristics
Gross Tonnage:	7,541 GRT
Displacement:	? long tons
Length:	435 ft 9 in (269 m)
Beam:	66 ft 6 in (28 m)
Draught:	34 ft 7 in (10.5 m)
Power:	Oil fired steam engine
Propulsion:	Twin bulkheads
Speed:	12.7 knots

1 Construction
2 Disaster
- 2.1 Attack
- 2.2 12:40 am—land reaction and rescue
3 Sinking and subsequent effects
4 The wreck today
5 References

[edit] Construction

The R.P. Resor was built in 1936, by the Federal Ship Building and Dry Dock Co. of Kearny, New Jersey. It cost ^{[citation needed]} to build.

[edit] Disaster

Leaving Houston, Texas on February 19, 1942, the R.P. Resor was carrying 78,729 barrels (12,517 m³) of crude oil to be carried to Fall River, Massachusetts. She had a crew of 41, and carried an ensign and eight navy gunners. These men we needed to man a four-inch gun mounted on the stern. German U-boat activity compelled the R.P. Resor to steer a zigzag course with no navigation lights. Extra lookouts were posted.

[edit] Attack

According to the account of John Forsdal, seaman on the boat during the attack, an unidentified object was spotted in the water. It flickered its lights, and subsequently, Mr. Forsdal reported by voice to the bridge. Soon after, a torpedo hit the port side. Debris flied into the air, and the deck erupted with flames. The crew, including Mr. Forsdal, was knocked by the violent explosion. As he released the life raft and slid down the saftey line into the water, three more torpedoes destroyed the port side hull. Oil poured out, coating the sea. Soon, the life raft had floated far. Mr. Forsdal swam for approximately 20 minutes before reaching the raft, which was a half mile from the burning R.P. Resor. On it, he joined radio operator Clarence Armstrong. John Forsdal released the following statement after being rescued:

Hooking my arms around the lifelines I rested for ten minutes or so in state of exhaustion. Sparks [Clarence Armstrong] was hanging to a lifeline on the otherside of the raft. I was heavily weighted down with cold and clinging oil; the exertion of climbing up on the raft taxed my strength so seriously that I was unable to do anything but lie down. The cold and heavy oil seemed to be paralyzing my body.

[edit] 12:40 am—land reaction and rescue

Flames were spotted by a lookout at the Shark River Lifeboat station, which was 20 miles (40 km) away. A picket boat was dispatched. In attempt to find survivors, they shined a searchlight, combing the surrounding areas. They saw Forsdal, and after much diffculty, manually pulled him over the gunwale. Radio Operator Armstrong was never seen again.

Now, many coast guard boats were on scene. Coxswain Daniel Hey was found, but due to congealed oil, they resorted to extreme measures, namely removing the oil-soaked, weighted clothes. Mr. Hey was one of the eight navy gunners on the ship. According to his testimony, he was sleeping in his bunk when the torpedo struck, and subsequently jumped off the boat, along with three other gunners. The port lifeboat had been effectively immobilized by the raging flames. Mr. Hey was the only one of the three to survive the burning sea. He also said that "he saw the starboard lifeboat shove off into the gunnel".

When the flames on the water's surface died out, navy vessels and planes searched the surrounding area for survivors. One body was recovered, but no other survivors, nor the starboard lifeboat was ever found.

[edit] Sinking and subsequent effects

Since trapped air prevented the immediate sinkage of the R.P. Resor, it was partially afloat for 46 hours. The USS Sagamore took the drifting wreck in tow as it sank. The tow ended about 30 miles (55 km) east of Barnegat Lighthouse, where it grounded.

The American Marine Insurance Syndicate paid US$1,716,416 to the Standard Oil Company: the total hull value in its insurance agreement.

A buoy floats over the wreck, placed by the Hydrographic Office of the United States. The wreck was demolished and moved with wire to a safe depth of 50 feet (15 m). The R.P. Resor was investigated by the Coast Guard's Sunken Tanker Project to determine if the tanker posed an ecological hazard. No further action was deemed necessary.

[edit] The wreck today

The wreck is partially destroyed, due to its relocation. The bridge and after tanks are unrecognizable. There is a large hole near the engine room, which allows easy access to inside rooms. The stern is still intact. Most of the superstructure has been destroyed.