SS City of Flint (1919)
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name: | City of Flint |
| Builder: | American International Shipbuilding |
| Yard number: | 1510 |
| Launched: | 28 December 1919 |
| Completed: | 28 February 1920 |
| Identification: | United States O/N: 219614 |
| Fate: | Sunk by U-575, 23 January 1943 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Design 1022 |
| Tonnage: | 4,963 GRT, 7,825 DWT |
| Length: | 390 feet (118.9 m) |
| Beam: | 54 feet 2 inches (16.5 m) |
| Speed: | 11.5 knots (13.2 mph; 21.3 km/h) |
SS City of Flint, a Hog Islander freighter built by American International Shipbuilding at the Hog Island Shipyard, Philadelphia for the United States Shipping Board (USSB), Emergency Fleet Corporation.City of Flint was named to honor the citizens of Flint, Michigan for their effort in Liberty Loan drives during World War I.
The ship was operating with the American Hampton Roads Line in 1930, but reverted to the USSB by 1935. By 1940 the USSB had been replaced by the United States Maritime Commission as owner and the ship was being operated as a Maritime Commission cargo vessel. During the World War II City of Flint was being operated by United States Lines allocated to Army cargo requirements.
City of Flint was the first American ship captured by the Germans during World War II.
The City of Flint, under the command of Captain Joseph A. Gainard, first became involved in the war when she rescued 200 survivors of the torpedoed British passenger liner Athenia on 3 September 1939.Athenia had been torpedoed by the German submarine U-30 commanded by Kapitanleutnant Fritz-Julius Lemp south of Rockall Bank that afternoon, and sent out a distress signal.City of Flint, the Norwegian freighter Knute Nelson, the Swedish yacht Southern Cross and the destroyers HMS Electra and HMS Escort responded to rescue survivors.
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