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Identification Numbered Vessel Photo Archive

Sylvan Arrow (ID 2150)

Tanker:

  • Built in 1918 by the New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, NJ
  • Launched 6 October 1917
  • Acquired by the Navy 15 July 1918
  • Commissioned USS Sylvan Arrow (ID 2150), 19 July 1918
  • Struck from the Navy Register 20 January 1919
  • Decommissioned 21 January 1919 and returned to her owner
  • Sold in 1931 to the Standard-Vacuum Transportation Co., Inc. of New York
  • Sold in 1935 to the Socony-Vacuum Oil Co., Inc. of New York
  • Sold in 1941 to the Brilliant Transportation Co., S.A. of Panama
  • Torpedoed 20 May 1942 by the German submarine U-155 southwest of Grenada at 11° 25' N., 62° 18' W.
  • Sank 28 May 1942 at position 12° 50' N., 67° 32' W.

    Specifications:

  • Displacement 18,610 t.
  • Length 485' 3"
  • Beam 62' 8"
  • Draft 27' 7"
  • Speed 11 kts.
  • Complement 89
  • Armament: One 5"/50 and one 3"/50 mount
  • Propulsion: Three single ended boilers, one 3,500hp vertical quadruple expansion steam engine, one shaft.
    Click on thumbnail
    for full size image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Sylvan Arrow 99k Launching, at the New York Shipbuilding Co. shipyard, Camden, New Jersey
    U.S. Navy photo NH 102247    		 Naval Historical Center
    Sylvan Arrow 52k Photographed circa early 1918
    Naval Historical Center photo NH 105243    		 Robert Hurst
    Sylvan Arrow 134k Possibly photographed when the ship was inspected by the Third Naval District in January 1918
    Naval Historical Center photo NH 105640
    Sylvan Arrow 57k 23 January 1920
    Rotterdam, Holland
    Donation of Captain Stephen S. Roberts, USNR, (Retired), 2008
    Naval History and Heritage Command photo NH 105923
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships: Sylvan Arrow (ID. No. 2150) was built in 1918 by the New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N. J. The ship was owned and operated as tanker by the Standard Oil Co. She arrived at New York on 15 July 1918, was taken over and refitted for naval use, was commissioned on 19 July; and assigned to the Naval Overseas Transportation Service.

    Sylvan Arrow loaded a cargo of fuel oil and seaplanes at New York and sailed for England on the 28th. She arrived at Devonport on 14 August and began her return voyage on the 17th. She delivered cargo to Brest, France, on 22 September and unloaded another at Sheerness, England, on 11 November.

    When the tanker returned to New York on 29 November, she was ordered demobilized. Sylvan Arrow was placed out of commission on 21 January 1919 and returned to her owner.

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