Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- CIVILIAN SHIPS --

MS Pennsylvania Sun (1938-ca.1965).
Renamed Stephanitor in 1955.

The motor ship Pennsylvania Sun, a 11,394 gross ton tanker, was built in 1938 at Chester, Pennsylvania, for the Sun Oil Company. On 15 July 1942, while in the Gulf of Mexico en route from Port Arthur, Texas, to Belfast, Northern Ireland, she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-571. Pennsylvania Sun was set afire and abandoned by her crew, two members of which were killed in the incident. However, she was salvaged on the following day, with assistance from USS Willett (ARS-12). She was subsequently repaired and returned to service.

Pennsylvania Sun remained in Sun Oil's employ until 1955, when she was sold to German owners and renamed Stephanitor. She was converted to an ore carrier in 1960 and continued in use until the mid-1960s.

This page features our only views of the MS Pennsylvania Sun.

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: 80-G-61599 MS Pennsylvania Sun (U.S. Merchant Tanker, 1938) Burning after she was torpedoed by the German Submarine U-571 about 125 miles west of Key West, Florida, on 15 July 1942. Photographed from a Naval Air Station, Key West, aircraft. Pennsylvania Sun was saved and returned to service. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 600 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

Photo #: 80-G-61600 MS Pennsylvania Sun (U.S. Merchant Tanker, 1938) The Carpenter and a Sailor from the salvage ship USS Willett (ARS-12) use "Foamite" to fight oil fires on the Pennsylvania Sun, during salvage efforts on 16 July 1942. She had been torpedoed by the German Submarine U-571 about 125 miles west of Key West, Florida, on the previous day. Taken by a Naval Air Station, Key West, photographer. Pennsylvania Sun was saved and returned to service. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 68KB; 595 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

13 April 2000