ak_atik-ex-carolyn.jpg 
Carolyn before her conversion to USS Atik. Photo courtesy of SSHSA Collection.

The Sinking of USS Atik (AK 101):

The USS Atik was first known as Carolyn. The ship was launched on July 3, 1912, and given the name Carolyn, the granddaughter of the shipping firm's owner, Archibald Hilton Bull. Its first 30 years of service was spent carrying freight and passengers between the West Indies and ports along the eastern coast of the United States. During WWI, the ship carries aboard on 3 in. (76mm) and one 5 in. (130mm) gun. A Navy armed guard detachment also was aboard the vessel from June 28, 1917, to November 1918. The Navy designator the ship with the identification number 1608, but it wasn't a commissioned naval vessel.

As WWII broke out the Carolyn remained a part of the Bull line of ships.  By January 12,  1942, the British Admiralty’s intelligence community had noted a “heavy concentration” of U-boats off the “North American seaboard from New York to Cape Race” and passed along that fact to the U.S. Navy. Then on January 31, 1942, a dispatch from the Chief of Naval Operations requested the Carolyn, as well as the Evelyn, "be given a preliminary conversion to AK (cargo ship) in the shortest possible time." A follow-up letter on February 12 from the Chief of the Bureau of Ships defined "shortest possible time" as of March 1, 1942, as the date to outfit the vessels according to the specifications indicated.

Over the next few weeks, the ship was given its main and secondary batteries, as well as sound gear. It maintained its appearance as a cargo ship. This is when it took on the name Atik (AK 101). However, it was to still use its previous name (Carolyn) when communicating with friendly vessels and stations. If it encountered any enemy ships it was to identify itself as SS Vill Franca, of Portuguese Registry.

The USS Atik was placed in commission at 4:45 PM on March 5, 1942, at the Portsmouth Navy Yard, Kittery, Maine. Lieutenant Commander Harry Lynnwood Hicks was placed in command of the ship. It was loaded with pulpwood to assure floating capability. Its mission was to lure U-boats into attempting a torpedo attack. The strategy was a U-boat would not waste its torpedoes on such a vessel. Instead, it would come to the surface to sink the ship with gunfire. Referred to as a q-ship, it was to serve as a decoy ship to lure those U-boats to the service and then open up an attack to sink the U-boat. Also, a part of the plan was as these decoy ships were under attack, other ships in the area would come to assist in the attack of the U-boats. However, they received word in March 1942, that they had little chance of receiving assistance if trouble arose.

The USS Atik completed its renovations and sea trials and officially got underway on March 23, 1942. On the night of March 26 going into the early morning of March 27, the ship was 300 miles east of Norfolk, Virginia. The Atik began to be stalked by U-123 on her second patrol off the eastern seaboard at approximately 10:00 PM on March 26. At 12:37 AM on March 27, 1942, the U-123 fired its first torpedo from 700 yards away. The torpedo hit the ship on the port side, under the bridge. A fire broke out immediately and the ship began to slightly list. As U-123 proceeded around under her victim’s stern, Kapitänleutnant Hardegen duly noted one boat being lowered on the starboard side and men abandoning the ship. Radio stations at Manasquan, New Jersey, and at Fire Island, New York intercepted a distress message: SSS SOS Lat 360ooN, Long. 70-00 W, Carolyn burning forward, not bad. Two minutes later, a second distress message sounded a bit more distressing: Torpedo attack, burning forward, require assistance.

After U-123 turned to starboard, Atik gained minimum speed and was able to steer a course paralleling the enemy’s course by turning to starboard as well. The Atik then dropped her concealment, opening fire from her main and secondary batteries. The first 4-inch shell missed the U-boat, as she took off away from the Atik, thus presenting a small target,   Heavy .50-caliber machine gun fire ricocheted around the U-boat’s decks as she speeds to escape the trap into the U-boat was lured into. One bullet mortally wounded Fähnrich zur See Rudi Holzer, on U-123’s bridge.

Gradually, the U-boat pulled out of range behind the cover of the smokescreen emitted by her straining engines, and her captain assessed the damage. As Hardegen later recorded, “We had been incredibly lucky.” U-123 submerged and again approached her adversary. At 02:29 AM, the U-boat launched another torpedo that struck the Atik's machinery spaces. The U-123 now sat in waiting to watch for the results of their recent attack.

Once again, Atik’s men could be seen embarking in her boats. U-123 surfaced at 3:27 AM to finish off the ship. Suddenly, at 3:50 AM, a fatal explosion blew Atik to pieces. Ten minutes later, U-123  buried her only casualty, Fähnrich zur See Holzer, who had died of his wounds. Atik’s entire crew perished, either in the blast that destroyed the ship or during the severe gale that lashed the area soon after the ship disintegrated.

The next morning, a USAAF bomber dispatched to Atik’s last reported position found nothing. The destroyer Noa (DD-343) and the tug Sagamore (AT-20) steamed toward the area as well. Heavy seas forced Sagamore to return to port, but Noa remained in the vicinity and ultimately sighted wreckage from Atik.

On April 9, 1942, Radio Berlin reported that a U-boat had sunk an adversary after a “bitter battle” but did not elaborate. “For administrative purposes,” Rear Adm. Russell Willson, wrote in a memorandum for the Chief of Naval Personnel on 2 July 1942, “the subject ship [Atik] should be considered to have been lost on 27 March 1942.” He added: “Aside from such notifications as having already been made to dependents, no further publicity will be given to the loss of this ship.” Not until after the war did translate Kriegsmarine records shed light on what had become of Atik.

Atik received one battle star for her World War II service, for her battle with U-123.

THE SHIP'S SPECIFICS:

Built: March 15, 1912 Sunk: March 27, 1942
Type of Vessel: Q-ship Owner: United States Navy
Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA Power: Single-screw steamer
Port of registry: New York, NY Dimensions:328' long x 46' wide x 21' deep
Previous Names: Carolyn  

LOCATION OF THE SINKING:

Here is the location of the sinking: 35° 38'N, 70° 14'W

uss_atik_sinking.jpg 

 

LOST CREW MEMBERS :

Total Lost: 0, Survivors: 141

LastFirstDate of DeathPositionHomeAge
Applegate Gilbert Betts March 27, 1942 Seaman First Class Portland, OR  
Arledge Kenneth Ulver March 27, 1942 Chief Boatswain's Mate Columbia, SC  
Bagley Hollis Fred March 27, 1942 Water Tender Second Class Suwanee, GA  
Bailey Forrest Augustus March 27, 1942 Pharmacist's First Mate West McHenry, IL  
Barnard Robert Douglas March 27, 1942 Seaman First Class Chicago, IL  
Barr Jack Farrill March 27, 1942 Seaman Second Class Okemah, OK  
Beckett Harold James March 27, 1942 Lieutenant Brooklyn, NY  
Bell Robert Edwin March 27, 1942 Seaman Second Class Douglas, AZ  
Blaine Robert Earl March 27, 1942 Seaman Second Class Atlanta, GA  
Blum Carl Homer March 27, 1942 Machinist's First Class Princeton, IN  
Bowen LeRoy Melvin March 27, 1942 Seaman First Class Janesville, IA  
Boyd Charles Seldon March 27, 1942 Machinist's Mate Second Class Ashland, KY  
 Boykin David Samuel March 27, 1942 Seaman Second Class Orlando, FL  
Brunet Frank March 27, 1942 Coxswain Dickson, TN  
Buck Kenneth Mortimer March 27, 1942 Radioman Second Class Detriot, MI  
Cahalan Frank Ray March 27, 1942 Chief Commissary Steward Waukegan, IL  
Cash Lester Monroe March 27, 1942 Shipfitter First Class McGhee, AR  
Caudle Donald March 27, 1942 Seaman First Class Westfield, IL 20
Cinowalt William Joseph March 27, 1942 Water Tender Second Class Pittsburg, PA  
Clinkinbeard Willis March 27, 1942 Gunner's Mate Third Class Portland, OR  
Collins James Perry March 27, 1942 Metalsmith Second Class Carson, IA  
Cornwell Irving Griswald March 27, 1942 Electrician's Mate First Class Oakland, CA  
Covati Joseph Frederick March 27, 1942 Coxswain New York, NY  
Cutner Alec March 27, 1942 Chief Water Tender Providence, RI  
Czinky William Joseph March 27, 1942 Machinist's Mate Second Class East Norwalk, CT  
Dana Edwin Legrand March 27, 1942 Yeoman First Class LaBelle, FL  
Darrah Henry Clay March 27, 1942 Quartermaster Third Class Seattle, WA  
Davenport Joseph Mitchell March 27, 1942 Seaman Second Class Millenbeck, VA  
Deatrick Ralph Morgan March 27, 1942 Fireman First Class Gettysburg, PA  
Deckelman Daniel Bernard March 27, 1942 Lieutenant New York, NY  
Dewitt Charles Franklin March 27, 1942 Gunner's Mate Third Class Tiller, OR  
Dibble Harold Vernon March 27, 1942 Machinist's Mate Third Class Seattle, WA  
Duffy Leonard Vincent March 27, 1942 Lieutenant Arlington, VA  
Dunaway Marvin Boone March 27, 1942 Seaman First Class Osgood, IN  
Dykeman Harold Everett March 27, 1942 Fireman First Class Portland, OR  
Edmiston John Wallace March 27, 1942 Chief Shipfitter Long Beach, CA  
Eisenman Irving March 27, 1942 Seaman Second Class Pennsauken, NJ  
Embrogno Joseph March 27, 1942 Boatswain's Mate Second Class Mission Beach, CA  
Finnegan, Jr. John Joseph March 27, 1942 Seaman Second Class Philadelphia, PA  
Freeland Owen William March 27, 1942 Shipfitter First Class Louis, IL  
Galusha Lawrence Albert March 27, 1942 Storekeeper First Class Boston, MA  
Garcia, Jr. Manuel March 27, 1942 Seaman Second Class Tampa, FL  
Gayde Peter Albert March 27, 1942 Chief Storekeeper Plymouth, MI  
Ghiloni John Primo March 27, 1942 Carpenter's Mate First Class Long Island, NY  
Goddard John Dougall March 27, 1942 Fireman First Class Ishpeming, MI  
Goebel Henry James March 27, 1942 Chief Boatswain's Mate Woodhaven, NY  
Guest Vernon Wayne March 27, 1942 Electrician's Mate Third Class Deport, TX  
Haas Walter Joseph March 27, 1942 Coxswain Philadelphia, PA  
Hall Raymond Allgood March 27, 1942 Machinist's First Class Fayetteville, NC  
Hall, Jr. William Franklin March 27, 1942 Seaman Second Class Birmingham, AL  
Haynes John Dennis March 27, 1942 Gunner's Mate Third Class Lakeview, NC  
Heath Fred Theo March 27, 1942 Seaman Second Class Santa Monica, CA  
Hedrick Charles Edgar March 27, 1942 Radioman Second Class Durham, CA  
Hicks Harry Lynnwood March 27, 1942 Lieutenant Commander Kisco, NY  
Holcomb Byron Eugene March 27, 1942 Storekeeper Third Class Carmen, ID  
Hoyle Carl Edward March 27, 1942 Apprentice Seaman Dallas, NC  
Huber Lowell Henry March 27, 1942 Machinist's Mate Second Class Seattle, WA  
Irvin  Stuart March 27, 1942 Fireman First Class San Francisco, CA  
James Edward Foster March 27, 1942 Seaman First Class Carthage, NC  
Jared Benjamin Elmer March 27, 1942 Carpenter's Mate Third Class Moxee City, WA  
Jarvis William Hector March 27, 1942 Shipfitter First Class San Diego, CA  
Jeffrey Edward Julian March 27, 1942 Quartermaster First Class Santa Rosa, CA  
Johannes Charles John March 27, 1942 Carpenter's Mate Third Class Gloversville, NY  
Johnson Elbert McKinley March 27, 1942 Chief Shipfitter San Bernardino, CA  
Jordan Joseph Franklin March 27, 1942 Machinist's Mate Second Class Normandy, MO  
Joyce Edgar Thomas March 27, 1942 Lieutenant (Junior Grade) New York, NY  
Kaiser George James March 27, 1942 Gunner's Mate Second Class Toledo, OH  
Kenney David Owen March 27, 1942 Fireman First Class New York, NY  
Kilsby Thomas Bryant March 27, 1942 Boatswain's Mate Second Class Damon, TX  
Kinder Franklin Murhl March 27, 1942 Ship's Cook Third Class Teays, WV  
Kosmider Daniel March 27, 1942 Chief Yeoman Witchita, KS  
Kowalewski Charles Stanley March 27, 1942 Machinist's Mate Second Class Baltimore, MD  
Kutz William Irwin March 27, 1942 Shipfitter Third Class Purcell, MO  
Lane William Gerald March 27, 1942 Fireman Second Class Miami, FL  
Langeliers Terrance Henry March 27, 1942 Coxswain Linton, ND  
Leonard Edwin Madison March 27, 1942 Ensign Columbia, SC  
Little James Norman March 27, 1942 Painter First Class Norfolk, VA  
Low Donald Banks March 27, 1942 Fireman First Class Santa Rosa, CA  
Lundgren Oscar Albert March 27, 1942 Chief Gunner's Mate Newport, RI  
 Lynch Patrick March 27, 1942 Ship's Cook First Class Washington, D.C.  
Malinowsky Alexander Frank March 27, 1942 Fireman First Class Uncasville, CT  
Mantel Julius Arthur March 27, 1942 Painter First Class Norfolk, VA  
Maple Chester Ansel March 27, 1942 Storekeeper Second Class San Diego, CA  
Mathis Jewell Asa March 27, 1942 Fireman First Class Lemay, MO  
May Robert Elias March 27, 1942 Coxswain Roanoke Rapids, NC  
Mayer Edward Frederick March 27, 1942 Seaman First Class Wausau, WI  
McArthur, Jr. Ernest Kestler March 27, 1942 Seaman First Class Greensboro, NC  
McCall Herbert Harper March 27, 1942 Chief Metalsmith San Diego, CA  
Myers Erwin Frederick March 27, 1942 Machinist's Mate First Class Lemon Grove, CA  
Michelswirth Anthony George March 27, 1942 Chief Electrician's Mate Vallejo, CA  
Miller Charles Alva March 27, 1942 Radioman Third Class Salem, OR  
Musson, Jr. James Harrington March 27, 1942 Quartermaster Third Class Glencoe, IL 24
Noble Wilson Porter March 27, 1942 Signalman Third Class New Haven, CT  
*O'Donnell Ignatius Peter March 27, 1942 Fireman Second Class Verona, ND  
*O'Donnell John Patrick March 27, 1942 Fireman First Class Verona, ND  
Olesnevich George John March 27, 1942 Seaman Second Class Ironwood, MI  
Ouellette Armand Raymond March 27, 1942 Carpenter's Mate Second Class Northbridge, MA  
Pamperin Robert Walter March 27, 1942 Shipfitter Second Class Gloucester Point, VA  
Pittman Roy Lee March 27, 1942 Seaman Second Class Queen City, TX  
Podres Ladislaus March 27, 1942 Water Tender Second Class Port Richmond, Staten Island, NY  
Quatrara Anthony Domminic March 27, 1942 Boilermaker First Class Long Beach, CA  
Raines Horace Franklin March 27, 1942 Signalman First Class Norfolk, VA  
Rathsack Walter Carl March 27, 1942 Chief Radioman Manitowoc, WI  
Ray Don Edison March 27, 1942 Gunner's Mate Third Class North Hollywood, CA  
Rice, Jr. John March 27, 1942 Carpenter's Mate Third Class Berwick, PA  
Rickard Len Grundy March 27, 1942 Fireman First Class Sacramento, KY  
Roberts Raymond Jack March 27, 1942 Gunner's Mate First Class Cambridge, MA  
Robertson John Allen March 27, 1942 Seaman Second Class Jackson, MS  
Robinson Frederick Webb March 27, 1942 Chief Water Tender Long Beach, CA  
Robusto Louis Joseph March 27, 1942 Seaman First Class Brooklyn, NY  
Roth Richard March 27, 1942 Chief Pharmacist's Mate Farrell, PA  
Rowe Kenneth George March 27, 1942 Seaman First Class Philadelphia, PA  
Sanko Francis Phillip  March 27, 1942  Seaman First Class Omaha, NE  
Schmidt Adam Joseph March 27, 1942 Fireman First Class Curtice, OH  
Schultz Leo Franklin March 27, 1942 Shipfitter Third Class Humboldt, IA  
Seely William Henry March 27, 1942 Electrician's Mate Third Class Flint, MI  
Smith Clarence Edward March 27, 1942 Carpenter's Mate First Class San Diego, CA  
Smith Clarence Eugene March 27, 1942 Seaman Second Class Knoxville, TN  
Smith George Blane March 27, 1942 Gunner's Mate First Class Norfolk, VA  
Snow William Lansing March 27, 1942 Boatswain's Mate Second Class Neodesha, KS  
Stephenson Lionel March 27, 1942 Seaman Second Class Detriot, MI  
Stevenson Wilbur William March 27, 1942 Seaman First Class Bellingham, WA  
Stewart Thomas Ayers March 27, 1942 Storekeeper Third Class Downey, CA  
Stinchcombe, Jr. Guy March 27, 1942 Seaman Second Class Flint, MI  
Storer Max Clifford March 27, 1942 Chief Radioman San Franciso, CA  
Stumpf Bernard William March 27, 1942 Fireman First Class San Diego, CA  
Sutton Theodore Roosevelt March 27, 1942 Metalsmith Second Class Atlanta, GA  
Taylor  Donald Charles March 27, 1942 Carpenter's Mate First Class Charlottesville, VA  
Templeton Chester Hendon March 27, 1942 Seaman Second Class Bardwell, KY  
Temte Robert March 27, 1942 Chief Signalman Los Angeles, CA  
Thompson Jessie Daniels March 27, 1942 Ship's Cook Third Class Beaufort, NC  
Vairetta Stephen Paul March 27, 1942 Seaman First Class Cleveland, OH  
Walker Noel James March 27, 1942 Fireman First Class Port LaVaca, TX  
Warner Joe Harvey March 27, 1942 Machinist's Mate Third Class Nordheim, TX  
White Woodrow Wilson March 27, 1942 Water Tender Second Class St. Petersburg, FL  
Wilson John Gilbert March 27, 1942 Storekeeper Second Class San Diego, CA  
Woodside Joe Lamont March 27, 1942 Ship's Cook First Class Milwaukee, WI  
Wool Meyer Theodore March 27, 1942 Apprentice Seaman Montclair, NJ  
Young Carroll Fletcher March 27, 1942 Radioman Second Class Charleston, WV  
Zeiger Joseph M. March 27, 1942 Boatswain's Mate Second Class Clear Lake, IA  
Zeringue Philip John March 27, 1942 Machinist's Mate First Class Harahan, LA  

.*Brothers who both perished

SURVIVING CREW MEMBERS :

A  listing of the surviving crew: None

LastFirstPositionDOBHomeAge
           

Photos of the USS Atik:

carolyn_launching.jpg
Launching ceremony for Carolyn at Newport News, July 3, 1912.  Photo courtesy of  Naval History and Heritage Command. 
carolyn.jpg
Carolyn underway in an undated image. Photo courtesy of Naval History and Heritage Command.



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