User:Buster40004/Sandbox/Projects/SS Cape Romano

The MS Cape Romano was a 5,106 ton freighter was built in 1942 at Beaumont, Texas, and owned by WSA [War Shipping Administration] operated by Lykes Bros. Steamship Co., New Orleans, LA.

Cape Romano, C1-A

C1 Type The C1 types were the smallest of the 3 original types designed by the United States Maritime Commission and were intended to be used on routes that did not call for fast ships. 173 were built between 1940 and 1945. Both the C1-A and  C1-B were built with either steam geared turbine or diesel motors.

19 November 1944

San Pedro Bay, Leyte a third crashes U.S. freighter Cape Romano; there are, however, no casualties among Cape Romano's 47-man merchant complement, her two passengers, or the 26-man Armed Guard.

C1-A (Shelter deck)     C1-B (Full scantling)      C1-M Length overall                412.25 feet             417.75 feet              338.5 feet Beam                        60 feet                 60 feet                 50 feet Depth                        37.5 feet                 37.5 feet                 29 feet Draft                         23.5 feet                27.5 feet                18 feet Gross tons                    5,028                     6,750                     3,805 Deadweight tons, steam        6,240                     7,815 Deadweight tons, motor        6,440                     8,015                     5,032 Speed                        14 knots                 14 knots                 11 knots Horsepower                    4,000                    4,000                    1,750

MS CAPE ROMANO

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The MS Cape Romano was a 5,106 ton freighter was built in 1942 at Beaumont, Texas, and owned by WSA [War Shipping Administration] operated by Lykes Bros. Steamship Co., New Orleans, LA.

Cape Romano sailed from San Francisco, Calif. [Master: Edward Tomti; 49 crew members; as well as 26 U.S. Navy Armed Guard] to Hollandia, New Guinea where she joined a convoy proceeding to San Pedro Bay, Leyte, Philippine Islands.

Tacloban, Leyte is located in San Pedro Bay, Leyte, of the Philippine Islands....[See maps below to pin point the area]....... Cape Romano anchored 1,500 yards from the beach and discharged her cargo.

The Cape Romano left in convoy from Hollandia, New Guinea on October 18th 1944 and arrived in Tacloban, Leyte on October 24th.

Japanese aircraft attacked the ships in the bay early in the morning of October 10th, 1944.

During this attack three bombs fell near the Cape Romano...one of these bombs exploded only 500 yards off her starboard quarter. The second bomb fell within twenty yards, and a third fell about seventy-five yards off the port bow resulting in severe concussion.

The shrapnel from these bombs put thirty-five holes and numerous gouges and dents on the port side from the bow to the #2 hatch. The starboard side suffered damage from the bow to the engine room, the superstructure, deck, as well as the stack and cargo gear....all told about 40 holes.

Then on November 18 a suicide plane came up on Cape Romano from dead astern heading for the center of the bridge. The Armed Guard opened up with there 20mm machine guns hitting the pilot and plane. This caused the plane to swerve and strike the port side of the bridge. The wing of the plane struck the gun tub and railing on the next deck before crashing into the sea opposite #3 hold. The plane then exploded showering the ship with plane and bomb fragments, puncturing the hull and deck in several places on the port side. Out of this whole attack....the crew was fairly lucky.....only two the Armed Guard were injured as well as two of the crew.

The Cape Romano returned to San Francisco under her own power arriving on January 10th, 1945.

Tacloban, Leyte Attack took place - Author: Bud Shortridge