SS Gulfamerica

SS Gulfamerica (HM1349)

Location: Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 Duval County
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Country: United States of America
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N 30° 17.593', W 81° 23.389'

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Inscription
This marker commemorates the attack on the USS Gulfamerica on April 10, 1942, during World War II (1941-1945) by a German U-boat just off the coast of Jacksonville Beach. The Gulfamerica, a merchant marine vessel, was on her maiden voyage from Port Arthur, Texas to New York carrying 90,000 barrels of fuel oil. It was one of the first merchant vessels to be fitted with weapons and carried seven naval armed guards in addition to its crew of 41 men. German U-boat, U-123, first fired a torpedo, striking the Gulfamerica on her starboard side; then maneuvered between the vessel and the shore to shell the tanker with its deck gun in full view of spectators on the boardwalk in Jacksonville Beach. Captain Oscar Anderson of the Gulfamerica ordered the ship to be abandoned. There was great confusion while loading the lifeboats and 19 men were killed, by drowning or from shellfire. The Gulfamerica and its cargo of oil burned for several days before sinking. Today the wreck sits in 60 feet of water, 4 ½ miles from the Jacksonville Beach coastline. In response to the sinking of the Gulfamerica , Florida Governor Spessard Holland declared a blackout of coastal areas to prevent the silhouetting of passing ships.
Details
HM NumberHM1349
Tags
Marker NumberF-541
Year Placed2005
Placed ByA Florida Hetitage Landmark Sponsored by the City of Jacksonville Beach and the Florida Department of State
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Wednesday, September 17th, 2014 at 4:50pm PDT -07:00
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Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)17R E 462513 N 3351341
Decimal Degrees30.29321667, -81.38981667
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 30° 17.593', W 81° 23.389'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds30° 17' 35.58" N, 81° 23' 23.34" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)904
Closest Postal AddressAt or near 2 4th Ave N, Jacksonville Beach FL 32250, US
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

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