View source for SS W. L. Steed

{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=Merchant Marine - Well-Known Vessels - S.S. W.L. Steed of the Emergency Fleet corp - NARA - 45500326.jpg
|Ship image size=300px
|Ship caption=SS ''W. L. Steed'' in 1918
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=[[United States]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United States|1918}}
|Ship name=''W. L. Steed''
|Ship namesake=William L. Steed
|Ship owner=*[[United States Shipping Board|USSB]] (1918–1920)
*[[Pan American Petroleum and Transport Company|Pan American Petroleum & Transport Co.]] (1920–1932)
*[[Standard Oil Company of New Jersey]] (1932–1942)
|Ship operator=*Mexican Petroleum Co. (1920–1932)
*Pan American Foreign Co. (1932–1935)
*Standard Oil Company of New Jersey (1935–1942)
|Ship homeport=*[[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]] (1918–1920)
*[[Los Angeles]] (1920–1932)
*[[Wilmington, Delaware|Wilmington]] (1932–1942)
|Ship route=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation|Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp.]], [[Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy]]
|Ship original cost={{usd}}1,060,108.61<ref name=hr1>{{cite book |year=1922 |title=To Amend Merchant Marine Act of 1920: Joint Hearings Before The Committee on Commerce |volume=II |location=Washington, DC |publisher=United States Government Printing Office |page=2412}}</ref>
|Ship yard number=269
|Ship way number=
|Ship laid down=9 November 1917
|Ship launched=2 September 1918
|Ship sponsor=Mrs. Paul H. Harwood
|Ship completed=9 September 1918
|Ship christened=
|Ship commissioned=18 September 1918
|Ship maiden voyage=28 September 1918
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship identification= *US [[Official Number]]: 216877
*[[Maritime call sign|Call sign]] LMTG (1918–1933)
*{{ICS|Lima}}{{ICS|Mike}}{{ICS|Tango}}{{ICS|Golf}}
*[[Maritime call sign|Call sign]] WSEE (1934–1942)
*{{ICS|Whiskey}}{{ICS|Sierra}}{{ICS|Echo}}{{ICS|Echo}}
|Ship fate=Sunk, 2 February 1942
|Ship notes= 
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1918}}
|Ship name=USS ''W. L. Steed''
|Ship operator=*[[U.S. Navy]] (1918–1919)
|Ship acquired=10 August 1918
|Ship commissioned=18 September 1918
|Ship recommissioned=
|Ship decommissioned=26 March 1919
|Ship fate=Returned to owners 26 March 1919
|Ship badge=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=
|Ship type=[[Design 1045 Tankship]]
|Ship tonnage=*{{GRT|6182}}
*{{NRT|3799}}
*{{DWT|9030}}<ref name=hr1/>
|Ship displacement=13,665 [[ton]]s (normal)
|Ship length={{convert|416|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}} 
|Ship beam={{convert|56|ft|1|in|m|abbr=on}} 
|Ship height=
|Ship draught=
|Ship draft={{convert|25|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} (mean)
|Ship depth={{convert|31|ft|1|in|m|abbr=on}} 
|Ship Armament=
|Ship decks=
|Ship deck clearance=
|Ship ramps=
|Ship ice class=
|Ship sail plan=
|Ship power=525 [[Nominal horsepower|Nhp]], 2,600 [[Horsepower#Indicated horsepower|ihp]]
|Ship propulsion=[[Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation|Bethlehem Shipbuilding Co.]] 3-cylinder [[triple expansion engine|triple expansion]]
|Ship speed={{convert|10+1/2|kn|mph km/h|lk=in}}
|Ship capacity=
|Ship crew=
|Ship armament=*'''During WWI'''<ref>{{cite book |year=1919 |title=Ship's Data - U.S. Naval Vessels |location=Washington, DC |publisher=United States Government Printing Office |page=552}}</ref>
* 1 × [[6"/50 caliber gun|{{convert|6|in|mm|abbr=on|0}} naval gun]]
* 1 × [[3"/50 caliber gun|{{convert|3|in|mm|abbr=on|0}} naval gun]]
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
'''''W. L. Steed''''' was a steam tanker built in 1917–1918 by [[Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation]] of [[Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy]] for [[Pan American Petroleum and Transport Company]], with intention of transporting oil and petroleum products between Mexican and Gulf ports and the Northeast of the United States. The ship was briefly requisitioned by the US Government during [[World War I]] but returned to commercial service in early 1919. The ship was named after William L. Steed, superintendent of the Mexican Petroleum Company of California.

==Design and construction==
Early in 1917 Pan American Petroleum & Transport Co. decided to add two more tankers of approximately 9,000 deadweight to its existing fleet, expanding their oil carrying business. A contract for these vessels was awarded to the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp. On August 3, 1917, the future tanker along with her sister-ship ''George W. Barnes'' were requisitioned by the [[Emergency Fleet Corporation]] (EFC) for war purposes. Due to the fact that Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp. was awarded US government contract to build several steel tankers designated as Design 1045 ships, it was decided to use the same blueprint to construct these vessels as well. The ship was laid down at the Fore River shipyard in Quincy (yard number 269) on 9 November 1917, and launched on 2 September 1918, with Mrs. Paul H. Harwood, wife of vice-president of Pan American Petroleum & Transport Company, serving as the sponsor.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tanker Launched at Quincy Yards. |newspaper=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27631359/the_boston_globe/ |date=3 September 1918 |page=9 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |accessdate=25 January 2019}}{{free access}}</ref><ref name=miramar>{{csr|register=MSI|id=2216877|shipname=W. L. Steed |accessdate=25 January 2019}}</ref> During the launch the vessel struck the ledge on the opposite side of the river and had several plates bent in around her starboard side #4 hold, which, however, did not prevent her speedy completion.<ref>{{cite news |title=Strikes Ledge in Launching. |newspaper=New York Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27665522/new_york_herald/ |date=3 September 1918 |page=5 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |accessdate=25 January 2019}}{{free access}}</ref> The vessel construction was completed on September 9, which set a new record with less than nine days passing between the launching and delivery. After successfully finishing sea trials on September 10, she was placed in a drydock to repair the damage sustained during the launching, and was not officially accepted by [[United States Shipping Board|USSB]] until September 18.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ship Ends Trial Run Eight Days After Launch, Setting New Record. |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SPNP19181021.2.18&dliv=none&e= |newspaper=San Pedro News Pilot |date=21 October 1918 |page=2 |accessdate=27 January 2019 |via =[[California Digital Newspaper Collection]]}}{{free access}}</ref>
[[Image:USS W. L. Steed launching.jpg|thumb|upright=1|left|The launch of SS ''W. L. Steed'' on September 2, 1918.]]
The ship was built on the Isherwood principle of [[longitudinal framing]] providing extra strength to the body of the vessel, and had two main decks. The vessel was later equipped with wireless of De Forest type. The tanker had a cargo pump room located amidships, and had cargo tanks constructed throughout the vessel with a total capacity to carry 3,200,000 US gallons of oil.

As built, the ship was {{convert|416|ft|8|in|m}} long ([[length between perpendiculars|between perpendiculars]]) and {{convert|56|ft|1|in|m}} [[beam (nautical)|abeam]], and had a depth of {{convert|31|ft|1|in|m}}.<ref name=uslist>{{cite book |year=1922–1923 |title=Merchant Vessels of the United States |location=Washington, DC |publisher=United States Government Printing Office}}</ref> ''W. L. Steed'' was originally assessed at {{GRT|6450}} and {{NRT|4620}} and had [[Deadweight tonnage|deadweight]] of approximately 9,030.<ref>{{cite book |year=1918–1919 |title=Merchant Vessels of the United States |location=Washington, DC |publisher=United States Government Printing Office}}</ref><ref name=hr1/> The vessel had a steel hull, and a single 525 [[Nominal horsepower|Nhp]] (2,600 [[Horsepower#Indicated horsepower|ihp]]) vertical [[triple expansion steam engine]], with cylinders of {{convert|26+1/2|in|cm|adj=on}}, {{convert|44|in|cm|adj=on}} and {{convert|74|in|cm|adj=on}} diameter with a {{convert|51|in|cm|adj=on}} [[stroke (engine)|stroke]], that drove a single screw propeller and moved the ship at up to {{convert|10+1/2|kn|mph km/h}}.<ref name=lloyds>{{cite book |year=1930–1931 |url=https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/30/30b1275.pdf |title=Lloyd's Register, Steamships and Motorships |location=London |publisher=[[Lloyd's Register]]}}</ref> The steam for the engine was supplied by three single-ended Scotch boilers fitted for oil fuel.

==Operational history==
===U.S. Navy service, World War I===

''W. L. Steed'' was inspected by the U.S. Navy in the [[3rd Naval District]] for possible [[World War I]] Navy service on 10 August 1918 while the ship was nearing the end of construction. Upon completion and delivery on 18 September 1918 the ship was formally taken over by the Navy, assigned the naval registry Identification Number (Id. No.) 3449 and was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] on the same day as USS ''W. L. Steed'' and transferred to the [[Naval Overseas Transportation Service]].<ref name=danfs>{{cite book |title=Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships: Vol. 8: W Through Z. |pages=1–2 |year=1981 |location=Washington, DC |publisher=Department of Defense, Navy, Naval History Division |last=Mooney |first=James L. |isbn=0-16-002030-1}}</ref>

''W. L. Steed'' departed [[Boston]] on 28 September 1918 for her first trip under Navy control and proceeded first to [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]] to load a cargo of fuel oil. She then continued on to [[New York City|New York]] and then [[Sydney, Nova Scotia|Sydney]] to finish loading before sailing on 23 October for [[Devonport, England|Devonport]]. Once under way, the tanker developed  problems with her steering gear and had to turn back. After finalizing temporary repairs at [[St. John's, Newfoundland|St. John's]] ''W. L. Steed'' sailed again on 10 November but had to turn around next day when the [[Armistice with Germany (Compiègne)|Armistice]] with [[German Empire|Germany]] that ended the war was signed. After arriving in New York on 13 November, she entered the drydock for repairs that lasted through the end of the month.<ref name=danfs/>

The tanker finally managed to deliver her cargo to [[Le Havre]] in France in December 1918, however, on her very next trip from [[New Orleans]] in February 1919 she again ran into problems with her machinery and had to be put into New York on 18 February 1919. Upon completion of repairs the tanker was [[Ship decommissioning|decommissioned]] on 26 March 1919 and returned to USSB on the same day.<ref name=danfs/>

===Commercial service===
Soon after release from the Navy service, ''W. L. Steed'' was allocated to McAllister Bros. while still remaining under USSB control. The tanker entered oil carrying service between Mexican ports of [[Tampico]], [[Tuxpan]] and Puerto Lobos and the US ports in the Northeast in June 1919 and remained in it through early spring 1920.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |title=Ship News. |date=26 June 1919 |page=2 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27756057/the_brooklyn_daily_eagle/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |accessdate=27 January 2019}}{{free access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |title=Shipping. |date=20 July 1919 |page=27}}</ref> On March 25, 1920, the tanker was sold by USSB to Pan American Petroleum and Transport Co. for {{usd}}749,861.34 and was put under control of its subsidiary, Mexican Petroleum Co.<ref name=hr1/> Following the transfer the ship arrived at Galveston on April 9 to undergo repairs and maintenance, but instead was sent back to Tampico to load another cargo of oil to be delivered to New York.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Houston Post |title=Port of Galveston. |date=11 April 1920 |page=38 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27665931/the_houston_post/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |accessdate=27 January 2019}}{{free access}}</ref>

During one of these trips, on May 25, 1920, ''W. L. Steed'' was leaving the Huasteca Dock on the [[Pánuco River]] fully loaded with petroleum products. While maneuvering in the river in an attempt to make a U-turn, the steamer damaged her rudder and as a result came into collision with tank barge ''Portsmouth'' being towed by steam tug ''Hulver'' up river for loading. The damage to the barge was limited to her rigging, and the tanker suffered only minor damage to her railings and stern flagpole. After undergoing temporary repairs at Tampico, the vessel sailed to New York where she entered a drydock in July for permanent repairs.<ref>{{cite web |title=The W.L. Steed. The Hulver. Pan American Petroleum Transport Co. vs. United States, 39 F.2d 569 (2d Cir. 1930) |url=https://casetext.com/case/the-wl-steed-2 }}</ref> The vessel continued transporting oil from Mexico to various Gulf ports, such as [[Galveston]], [[Port Eads, Louisiana|Port Eads]] and [[New Orleans]] as well as petroleum products from the Gulf to the Northeast ports of New York, [[Baltimore]] and [[Philadelphia]] through early part of 1925.

Following a continuing decline in Mexican oilfields production, ''W. L. Steed'' was reassigned to the California to East coast route. The tanker transited through the Panama Canal for the first time on her new route on March 14, 1925, and returned on April 7 carrying 9,000 tons of gasoline from [[San Pedro, California|San Pedro]] to New Orleans.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=Panama Canal Record |volume=XVIII |number=32 |page=451 |title=Movement of Ocean Vessels |date=18 March 1925}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |newspaper=Panama Canal Record |volume=XVIII |number=36 |page=502 |title=Movement of Ocean Vessels |date=15 April 1925}}</ref> The vessel largely continued carrying gasoline from West coast refineries to various East coast ports through 1929 with occasional trips to Tampico.

On March 26, 1925 a syndicate including [[Standard Oil of Indiana]] [[Pan American Petroleum and Transport Company#Pan American Eastern Petroleum|acquired a controlling interest]] in Pan American Petroleum & Transport. Standard of Indiana soon bought out the other members of the syndicate and by 1930 had absorbed over 90% of the outstanding common stock of Pan American.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=Commercial and Financial Chronicle |volume=125 |issue=3246 |date=10 September 1927 |title=Standard Oil Co. of Indiana. - Stock Increases Approved |page=1473 |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_commercial-and-financial-chronicle_1927-09-10_125_3246/page/1473/mode/1up?q=%22Standard%20Oil%20Co%22}}<br /> {{cite news |newspaper=Commercial and Financial Chronicle |volume=129 |issue=3363 |date=7 December 1929 |title=Standard Oil Co. of Indiana. - Approximately 70% of Pan American Petroleum & Transport Co. Common and Class B Stocks Held |page=3648 |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_commercial-and-financial-chronicle_1929-12-07_129_3363/page/3648/mode/1up?q=%22Standard%20Oil%20Co.%20of%20Indiana%22}}<br/> {{cite news |newspaper=Commercial and Financial Chronicle |volume=130 |issue=3392 |date=28 June 1930 |title=Standard Oil Co. of Indiana - Renews offer |page=4625 |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_commercial-and-financial-chronicle_1930-06-28_130_3392/page/4625/mode/1up?q=%22Standard%20Oil%20Co%22}}<br/> {{cite news |newspaper=Commercial and Financial Chronicle |volume=131 |issue=3405 |date=27 September 1930 |title=Standard Oil Co. (Indiana) - Renews Offer to Exchange Stock... |page=2080 |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_commercial-and-financial-chronicle_1930-09-27_131_3405/page/2080/mode/1up?q=%22Standard%20Oil%20Co.%22}}<br/> {{cite news |newspaper=Commercial and Financial Chronicle |volume=120 |issue=3119 |date=4 April 1925 |title=Pan American Petroleum & Transport Co. - Control of company sold by E. L. Doheny to Standard Oil Co. of Indiana... |page=1757 |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_commercial-and-financial-chronicle_1925-04-04_120_3119/page/1757/mode/1up}}</ref>

In 1932, Standard of Indiana sold Pan American's foreign properties (the core of which were oil production assets in Mexico and Venezuela and the tanker fleet) to the Standard Oil of New Jersey in the form of a new subsidiary ([[Pan American Petroleum and Transport Company#Pan American Foreign|Pan American Foreign Corp]]), which was merged into Jersey Standard in 1936.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=Commercial and Financial Chronicle |volume=134 |issue=3490 |date=14 May 1932 |title=Pan American Petroleum & Transport Co. - To Reduce Capitalization |page=3651 |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_commercial-and-financial-chronicle_1932-05-14_134_3490/page/3651/mode/1up?q=%22Pan%20American%20Petroleum%22}}<br/>{{cite magazine |magazine=The Oil and Gas Journal |volume=30 |issue=52 |date=12 May 1932 |title=Pan American Foreign Corp. Incoroprated in Delaware |page=22 |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_oil-gas-journal_1932-05-12_30_52/page/22/mode/1up}}<br/> {{cite news |newspaper=National Petroleum News |volume=28 |issue=52 |date=23 December 1936 |title=Dissolve Holding Company |page=45 |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_npn-national-petroleum-news_1936-12-23_28_52/page/45/mode/1up?q=%22Pan%20American%20Foreign%22}}</ref> During these transitional times, ''W. L. Steed'' was employed on new route carrying oil from [[Aruba]] to the ports on the Gulf and East coast of United States and continued serving it for almost two years.

On December 18, 1930, steamer {{SS|Papoose||2}} was towed by four tugs for Todd's shipyards at [[Brooklyn, New York|Brooklyn]]. When this flotilla was near Downey's Shipyard, ''W. L. Steed'' with the tug ''Mexpet'' approached from the opposite direction and were then in the vicinity of [[Shooters Island]]. Both vessels were on their respective sides of the channel and were about to pass each other safely. When about fifteen to sixteen hundred feet apart, ''W. L. Steed'' suddenly altered her course attempting to cross the bow of ''Papoose''. The engines of the three tugs alongside ''Papoose'' were reversed, and her anchor was dropped, but ''W. L. Steed'' did not stop or reverse engines, increasing her speed instead, attempting to swing around the bow of ''Papoose''. ''W. L. Steed'' parted the towing hawser between  ''Papoose'' and the tug, and then struck her starboard bow causing damage to both vessels.<ref>{{cite web |title=The W.L. Steed. The William C. Moore. The Papoose. The Margaret A. Moran, 79 F.2d 2 (2d Cir. 1935) |url=https://casetext.com/case/the-wl-steed |accessdate=31 January 2019}}</ref>

In April 1932 Standard Oil of Indiana agreed to divest their newly acquired foreign assets of Pan American and sold them to Standard Oil of New Jersey. Following the acquisition, all foreign holdings and all ships acquired with them were incorporated as Pan American Foreign Company.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |title=Seubert Validates Pan-American Sale. |date=21 April 1932 |page=17 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27895286/the_philadelphia_inquirer/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |accessdate=30 January 2019}}{{free access}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Brooklyn Daily Eagle |title=Pan-American Foreign Company Incorporated. |date=9 May 1932 |page=30 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27895331/the_brooklyn_daily_eagle/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |accessdate=30 January 2019}}{{free access}}</ref> Under new ownership ''W. L. Steed'' did not have an assigned route, but rather was used to transport oil and petroleum products from three different locations. One of them involved transporting oil from Venezuelan ports of [[Caripito]], [[La Guaira|Guaira]] and Las Piedras to United States ports of Boston, New York and Baltimore. The tanker also carried gasoline and fuel oil from Gulf coast refineries of [[Baton Rouge]], [[Port Eads]] and [[Baytown, Texas|Baytown]] to a variety of ports along United States eastern seaboard. Finally, the ship continued making occasional trips to and from Aruba.

After over twenty years of nearly continuous operation, the tanker required an overhaul to her engines and arrived at [[Bayonne, New Jersey|Bayonne]] on 30 June 1939 to await her turn to be put in a drydock for repairs. She remained docked there through August 1939 and eventually proceeded to [[Mariners Harbor, Staten Island|Mariner's Harbor]] to go through the needed maintenance work at the [[Bethlehem Steel Company]]'s yard. All work with the exception of boiler replacement was finalized by the end of September, and ''W. L. Steed'' departed New York on 4 October 1939 bound for [[Aransas Pass, Texas|Aransas Pass]].<ref name=so/>

During 1940 and 1941, ''W. L. Steed'' was primarily employed in coastwise trade transporting petroleum products from the Gulf ports to East coast, although the vessel made occasional journeys to foreign destinations such as Aruba and [[Cartagena, Colombia|Cartagena]] among others. Overall, she made 17 voyages in 1940 and 22 trips in 1941, carrying overall bulk oil cargoes of {{bbl to t|1053261|abbr=off}} and {{bbl to t|1396278|abbr=off}}, respectively. From July 4 to October 18, 1940, the tanker was tied up in [[Patuxent River]] to undergo further repairs, and in October 1941 she had finally had her old boilers removed and had a set of new ones built by [[Water-tube boiler#Babcock & Wilcox boiler|Babcock & Wilcox]] installed.<ref name=so/>

===Sinking===

''W. L. Steed'' departed on 14 January 1942 for her last voyage from [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]] bound for Cartagena. The tanker was under command of captain Harold G. McAvenia and had a crew of 38 men. After a largely uneventful journey, the ship reached her destination a week later and after loading a cargo of {{bbl to t|65396}} of oil, departed on 23 January 1942 for her return trip. Her return voyage was also mostly uneventful until early afternoon of January 30, 1942, when a lookout spotted what he thought was a small fishing craft but soon decided to be a submarine. The tanker radioed for help, and a U.S. Navy patrol plane showed up about an hour later but by then the submarine went away. By midnight of January 31 the weather worsened with the winds and heavy seas getting progressively stronger. ''W. L. Steed'' continued through rough weather on her northerly course to her destination.<ref name=danfs/><ref name=so>{{cite book |title=Ships of the Esso fleet in World War II |publisher=The Conway Printing Company |year=1946 |location=New York, NY |pages=83–88 }}</ref>

On February 2 it started snowing and visibility had shrunk to about {{convert|2|nmi|km}}. At approximately 12:45 when ''W. L. Steed'' was about {{convert|80|to|90|nmi|km}} east of the mouth of [[Delaware River]], German submarine {{GS|U-103|1940|2}} under the command of [[Werner Winter (U-boat commander)|Werner Winter]] fired one bow torpedo at the tanker. The vessel was struck on her starboard side, forward of the [[Bridge (nautical)|bridge]] and around No.3 tank setting the cargo of oil on fire. The engines were stopped and the captain ordered the crew to abandon ship. Four lifeboats were launched and the whole crew of nine officers and twenty nine seamen left the ship in orderly fashion. By this time, the submarine surfaced a few hundred yards from the tanker. Due to rough seas, the waves had extinguished the flames and captain Winter ordered to man the deck gun. ''W. L. Steed'' was hit 17 times after 83 shots were fired, which set the tanker afire again. Not willing to remain surfaced, the submarine launched two more torpedoes at the vessel delivering [[coup de grâce]]. One torpedo missed but the second one hit the ship causing explosion, shooting burning oil about 500 feet up in the air. ''W. L. Steed''  settled by the bow and shortly sank, while the submarine departed the scene in the southwesterly direction.<ref name=danfs/><ref name=so/><ref name=bertke>{{cite book|last1=Bertke |first1=Donald |last2=Smith |first2=Gordon |last3=Kindell |first3=Don |title=World War II Sea War, Volume 5: Air Raid Pearl Harbor. This Is Not a Drill.  |year=2013 |publisher= Bertke Publications |pages=278–279 |isbn=978-1937470050}}</ref>

The U-boat's departure left the four boats alone in the frigid waters. While the lifeboats were well stocked with water and provisions, they lacked warm clothing or blankets. As ''W. L. Steed'' had been abandoned in a haste, most men entered the lifeboats in whatever clothing they were wearing at the time of the attack. The boats soon drifted apart and, one by one, the ill-clad sailors began dying from hypothermia.<ref name=danfs/><ref name=so/>

All but two men in lifeboat No.2 died one by one until the morning of February 6 when the survivors spotted a vessel passing close by and were able to attract her attention. Both seamen were taken aboard British steamer SS ''Hartlepool'' and were landed at Halifax on February 9 where one of the survivors died the next day.<ref name=danfs/><ref name=so/><ref name=bertke/>

Lifeboat No.3 fell behind other boats from the beginning and the men in it decided to wait out the storm in their present location. They anchored the boat and as it got darker fired a few flares. After spotting a flare in the distance, they starting rowing in that direction but a huge wave went over them washing most of their oars, sails and rudder as well as other equipment overboard. The crew spent the night frantically pouring water from the lifeboat using any available means, as the storm grew stronger. The next morning one of the men died, and by noon another one died, and the last three survivors made a fire in the lifeboat in an attempt to stay warm. In the morning of February 4 they were spotted and taken on board by Canadian [[armed merchant cruiser]] {{HMS|Alcantara|F88|2}} and landed at Halifax on February 7.<ref name=danfs/><ref name=so/><ref name=bertke/>

On 12 February 1942 British steamer SS ''Raby Castle'' on her passage to Cape Town came across lifeboat No. 4 containing four men, with only one of them being alive. The survivor was taken on board the ship but died from exposure three days later and was buried at sea. Lifeboat No. 1 which carried the captain and three other members of the crew was found empty on February 19 by steamer SS ''Poza Rica'' northwest of Cape Hatteras.<ref name=danfs/><ref name=so/><ref name=bertke/>

==External links==
*[https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-89000/NH-89436.html Department of the Navy: Naval Historical Center: Online Library of Selected Images: Civilian Ships: S.S. ''W.L. Steed'' (American Tanker, 1918). Served as USS ''W. L. Steed'' (ID # 3449) in 1918-1919.]
*[https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-41000/NH-41864.html Department of the Navy: Naval Historical Center: Online Library of Selected Images: Civilian Ships: S.S. ''W.L. Steed'' (American Tanker, 1918). In Drydock (ID # 3449) in 1918-1919.]

==References==
{{reflist}}
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{{February 1942 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:W. L. Steed}}
[[Category:1918 ships]]
[[Category:Tankers of the United States]]
[[Category:World War I tankers of the United States]]
[[Category:Ships built in Quincy, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by German submarines in World War II]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:Unique oilers and tankers of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in February 1942]]
[[Category:Oil tankers]]