kanemono Posted November 22, 2019 Share #1 Posted November 22, 2019 Raymond J. Schambers was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 1, 1919. Schambers served on a number of merchant ships including the SS Beta in 1941-42, the SS Ticonderoga and SS Bennington in 1943. Schambers was the Master of the SS Kittanning, a “T-2” oil tanker. The SS Kittanning in ballast, left the port of Majuro on April 7, 1944 for Aruba. Soon after setting sail the third assistant engineer fell and seriously injured himself. Captain Schambers decided to return to port. Just after the ship changed course off of the port of Cristobal, Canal Zone, a torpedo fired by U-539 struck on the starboard side at the number 6 tank. Minutes later a second torpedo hit the #7 tank on the same side abaft the mid-ships house and the ship swung hard right. The explosions opened a hole 65 feet long and 20 feet high and flooded five tanks, causing a 35° list to starboard. At 17.00 hours, the ten officers, 39 crewmen and 25 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 5”, one 3” and eight 20mm guns) abandoned ship in four lifeboats. Two of the lifeboats swamped in the choppy seas and squally weather. The submarine fired another torpedo at 17.06 hours which struck the port side at the #4 tank under the mid-ship house. U-539 reported another torpedo was fired at 18.49 hours, but it seems that torpedo missed. The USCGC Marion picked up the survivors. The tanker soon began to right herself and began to float on an even keel. The Master, Raymond J. Chambers made a call for volunteers to re-board the vessel. Frank G. Breckenridge, First Assistant Engineer, and Karl B. Gjersvik, Junior Third Mate, along with the Chief Engineer responded. The five men re-boarded the Kittanning and the USCGC Crawford began towing the tanker, however, the tow line parted and operations halted for the night. The next morning, the tug USS Woodcock arrived and took the tanker in tow, but the tug suffered engine trouble and had to drop the tow. Later the Panama Canal Tug Tavernilla took the ship in tow, later helped by the tug Cardenas. With the additional help of the American tug Jupiter Inlet the tanker moored at Cristobal on 6 July. The Kittanning was dry docked at Balboa, before being towed to Galveston for permanent repairs. Captain Raymond J. Schambers was awarded the Merchant Marine Meritorious Service Medal for his actions saving the SS Kittanning. After the war Schambers continued serving in the Merchant Marine. Raymond J. Schambers died on May 15, 2004. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanemono Posted November 22, 2019 Author Share #2 Posted November 22, 2019 next.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wharfmaster Posted November 22, 2019 Share #3 Posted November 22, 2019 Outstanding ! Love the Torpedoed badge. Loaded T-2s early on in my career. Stood on their decks many a time. Earned their keep, fine vessels. Wharf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted November 22, 2019 Share #4 Posted November 22, 2019 This has to be rare. What a fantastic group and tribute to a fine leader. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EGA-DOG Posted November 22, 2019 Share #5 Posted November 22, 2019 One heck of a grouping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunnertwo Posted November 22, 2019 Share #6 Posted November 22, 2019 I'll second the thanks for posting a Rare (with a capital R) and complete MM group. They were unsung and under appreciated by many but did so much for the war effort. The material they brought made the difference in winning battles. G2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ocsfollowme Posted November 22, 2019 Share #7 Posted November 22, 2019 Outstanding! +1 on the torpedoed badge!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manayunkman Posted November 22, 2019 Share #8 Posted November 22, 2019 What are the other 2 medals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted November 22, 2019 Share #9 Posted November 22, 2019 absolutely fantastic group. Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilitaryPicker1941 Posted November 22, 2019 Share #10 Posted November 22, 2019 Great grouping! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerialbridge Posted November 23, 2019 Share #11 Posted November 23, 2019 Don't give up the ship. Great group and story. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
otter42 Posted November 23, 2019 Share #12 Posted November 23, 2019 Any idea on where the torpedoed badge came from, is it marked on the back? Is this a novelty pin, or was it given out by a company like the catapiller club pin? Fantastic group, thanks for sharing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dskjl Posted November 23, 2019 Share #13 Posted November 23, 2019 What an amazing group, heroic actions, in extreme circumstances, from a brave mariner. Congrats and thank you for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted November 23, 2019 Share #14 Posted November 23, 2019 Fantastic group to a true hero! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skypilot6670 Posted November 23, 2019 Share #15 Posted November 23, 2019 Great Group. I’ve never seen the torpedoed badge. Thanks. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanemono Posted November 23, 2019 Author Share #16 Posted November 23, 2019 The TORPEDOED pin is jeweler made and marked sterling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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