The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Collision of Allied Ships Off North Carolina Coast in 1941-- Part 1: USS Semmes and HMS Seneteur Duhamel

From Ships Sunk Off North Carolina Coast  "Seneteur Duhomel-USS Semmes collision May 6, 1942.

The HMS Seneteur Duhamel was a trawler launched in 1927 and commissioned into the British Navy in 1941, 913 tons and one 4-inch gun.

It was lent to the US Navy in Feb. 1942 under contract to operate off the east coast of the United States.

It was accidentally rammed and sunk by the U.S. navy auxiliary ship USS Semmes off Cape Lookout, North Carolina.  It is 65 feet deep and 7 miles southeast of Beaufort Inlet.

The British ship had been sent out to protect a convoy.  On May 6, 1942, it was headed to Beaufort Inlet in a light haze when it spotted another ship about a mile away.  The Dahomet flashed its lights asking :"What ship?"

The light blinded the Semmes' crew and before a reply could be given, the bow of the Semmes rammed amidships.  The Semmes offered to take the crew off, but were refused.

--GreGen

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