SS Pedernales

SS Pedernales was a World War II lake tanker that was torpedoed and sunk in Aruba by the German submarine U-156 on 16 February 1942. The ship was later partially salvaged and re-floated, serving as a stationary oil storage hulk until the end of the war.

History

The SS Pedernales was built in 1938 by the Furness Shipbuilding Company in Haverton Hill-on-Tees, England. The ship was owned by the Eagle Oil and Shipping Company, a British concern with close ties to the Royal Dutch Shell company. The Pedernales was primarily used to transport crude oil from Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela to Aruba, where it was refined into gasoline and other petroleum products.

Sinking

On 16 February 1942, while anchored off the coast of Aruba, the SS Pedernales was attacked by the German submarine U-156. The submarine fired three torpedoes at the Pedernales, two of which hit and caused a massive explosion. The attack resulted in the death of 16 crew members and the sinking of the ship.

Salvage and Later Use

Despite the extensive damage, the SS Pedernales was partially salvaged by the United States Navy. The midsection of the ship was removed and the bow and stern were welded together, creating a shorter vessel. The ship was then re-floated and used as a stationary oil storage hulk for the remainder of the war.

Legacy

The SS Pedernales is remembered as a symbol of the impact of World War II on the Caribbean region. The shipwreck site is now a popular diving spot, and a memorial to the crew members who lost their lives in the attack has been erected in Aruba.