Official Number:                     237933

Builder:                                   Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp, Sparrows Point, MD

Pennant No:                   

Launched:                               23 July 1938

Into Service:                            WW2

Out of service:                        1946

Fate:                                         December, 1963 broken up

Items of historic interest involving this ship: –

Background Data:  One of a group of additional American – flagged ships which served as Escort Oilers during WW2

Career Data:

23 July 1938 launched by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp, Sparrows Point, MD as Yard Nr: 4309 named Esso Charleston for Standard Oil Co of Wilmington, New Jersey

October 1938 completed

7 December 1941 sailed New York independently to Baytown arriving 14 December 1941

15 December 1941 sailed Baytown independently to New York arriving 21 December 1941

24 December 1941 sailed New York independently to Baytown arriving 1 January 1942

2 January 1942 sailed Baytown independently to New York arriving 10 January 1942

14 January 1942 sailed New York independently to Baton Rouge arriving 20 January 1942

24 January 1942 sailed Baton Rouge independently to Baltimore arriving 29 January 1942

30 January 1942 sailed Baltimore independently to Baytown arriving 6 February 1942

9 February 1942 sailed Baytown independently to New York arriving 17 February 1942

19 February 1942 sailed New York independently to Texas City arriving 26 February 1942

1 March 1942 sailed Baytown independently to New York arriving 9 March 1942

13 March 1942 sailed New York independently to Baytown arriving 22 March 1942

24 March 1942 sailed Baytown independently to New York arriving 31 March 1942

30 April 1942 sailed New York to Hampton Roads

3 May 1942 sailed Hampton Roads

9 May 1942 sailed Jacksonville independently to Baytown arriving 14 May 1942

15 May 1942 sailed Baytown independently to Key West arriving 21 May 1942

1942 owners became US WSA – name unchanged

24 May 1942 sailed Kye West in unescorted convoy KN103 to Hampton Roads arriving 29 May 1942

31 May 1942 sailed Hampton Roads independently to New York arriving the next day

3 June 1942 sailed New York independently to Hampton Roads

7 June 1942 sailed Hampton Roads in unescorted convoy KS508 to Key West arriving 12 June 1942

20 June 1942 sailed Baytown

21 June 1942 sailed New Orleans

25 June 1942 sailed Key West in unescorted convoy KN113 to Hampton Roads arriving 29 June 1942

20 June 1942 sailed Hampton Roads independently to New York arriving 1 July 1942

WW2 served as an Escort oiler – name unchanged

1 May 1944 at Mers El Kabir Harbour, Algeria with USS Ludlow (DD438) and USS Edison (DD439) berthed alongside. USS Edison (DD439) received 55,045 gallons of fuel oil. Later USS Hambleton (DD455), USS Nields (DD616) and USS Niblack (DD424) also berthed alongside to refuel

USS Edison (DD439)

2 May 1944 at Mers El Kabir Harbour, Algeria with USS McLanahan (DD615) and USS Laub (DD263) berthed alongside to refuel

3 June 1944 sailed from Port Said in escorted convoy GUS42 to Hampton Roads arriving on 29 June 1944

27 March 1945 arrived at Oran from Augusta

1946 returned to her owners – name unchanged

1950 owners became Esso Shipping co Wilmington – name unchanged

1953 purchased by Tramp Shipping & Oil Transportation Corp, Wilmington – named changed to Poseidon

1956 purchased by Pioneer Shipping Corp, Monrovia – name unchanged

1959 purchased by Cargo Ships El-Yam Ltd (Maritime Overseas Corp. Manager), Haifa – name unchanged

6 January 1960 laid up at Haifa

September 1963 sold for scrap

1 November 1963 arrived La Spezia for demolition by Cantieri Portovenere S.p.A

December 1963 demolition began