AH-WR-1295

SS Pedernales

Oil Tanker · United Kingdom · Lost 1942 · The Lesser Antilles

A lake tanker torpedoed by a German U-boat during a 1942 raid on Aruba's oil refineries, leaving her midsection as a wreck.

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Artistic recreation based on recorded historical documents. See the documented evidence.

Historically Reconstructed. Drawn from partial documentation of this vessel together with her known class and configuration. See the documented evidence.

The Vessel and Her Loss

Pedernales carried crude oil between Venezuela's Lake Maracaibo and Aruba's Lago refinery. On 16 February 1942 German submarine U-156 torpedoed her at anchor as part of Operation Neuland, a raid on Caribbean oil infrastructure. She burned but did not sink; her damaged midsection was later removed and left in Aruba while the rejoined bow and stern returned to service.

Vessel

Built: 1938
Builder: Cantiere Riuniti dell'Adriatico
Yard: Monfalcone, Italy
Material: Steel
Length: Not established
Beam: Not established
Tonnage: 4317
Propulsion: Steam, single screw
Owners: Lago Shipping Company (Esso)

Loss

Date: February 16, 1942
Cause: Enemy action
Location: San Nicolas Harbor, Aruba
Water: Caribbean Sea
Voyage: Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela → San Nicolas, Aruba
Cargo: Crude oil
Aboard: 26
Lives lost: 8
Master: Herbert McCall

The Wreck Today

Depth: 20 ft
Condition: Only the torpedoed midsection remains at the site; bow and stern were salvaged and rejoined for continued service.
Orientation: Not established
Discovered: Not established
Protection: Not established