William Rockefeller
Tanker · United States · Lost 1942 · The Outer Banks
One of the world's largest tankers of 1921, sunk off Cape Hatteras in 1942 with all 50 aboard saved.
Become Captain of Record
The Vessel and Her Loss
William Rockefeller was launched at Newport News in 1921 for Standard Oil of New Jersey, one of the two largest tankers in the world that year. For two decades she carried oil between Mexico and the East Coast. On June 28, 1942, bound from Aruba to New York with 135,000 barrels of fuel oil, she was torpedoed by U-701 off Cape Hatteras and sank. All 50 aboard survived.
Vessel
- 1921
- Newport News Shipbuilding
- Newport News, Virginia
- Steel
- 554 ft
- 75 ft
- 14,054 gross tons
- Steam, twin screw
- Standard Oil Company of New Jersey
Loss
- June 28, 1942
- Enemy action
- Off Cape Hatteras
- Atlantic Ocean
- Aruba → New York
- 135,000 barrels of Bunker C fuel oil
- 50
- 0
- Not established
The Wreck Today
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
- Not established
Position
- Not established
- Position not established
- Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
Precise wreck position not taken into this record.
Evidence
Overall confidence: Documented (86/100)
The wreck site has not been located.
NOAA Monitor National Marine Sanctuary
Particulars, loss date, attacker and survivors.
