SS Badger State Rocked by Blasts
(Compilation from New York Times 26 December 1969 to 16 January 1970)
26 December 1969 A Vietnam-bound ammunition ship, carrying 8,900 bombs and rockets equal to 2,000 tons of TNT, was rocked by explosions and abandoned by her crew in rough seas 1,500 miles northeast of Hawaii.
27 December 1969 Fourteen crewmen were picked up by a Greek ship, the Khian Star, and a US Air Force HC130 rescue plane dropped life rafts and dye marker at the site. A Navy spokesman said the Badger State was carrying the rockets and bombs for the Air Force at Danang, South Vietnam under contract to the Military Sea Transportation Service. The bombs included 2,000 pounders which were loaded at the Bangor (Washington) Naval Ammunition Depot. At daybreak rescue planes and ships found no sign of the 26 missing men, some of whom were last seen clinging to life rafts in 20 foot seas. Heavy rains, high winds and thick clouds were impairing the search.
28 December 1969 Only one rescue vessel continued the hopeless search for the men. One body was recovered by the freighter American Dragon; at least four others were sighted, but surging seas prevented recovery. The Badger State was reported to be breaking up in heavy seas.
01 January 1970 The Navy abandoned plans to salvage the deserted munitions ship after the tugboat Abnaki nervously approached to within two miles of the freighter and reported fires still burning. The tug said the freighter had a 8 by 16 foot hole 4 feet above the water line in the starboard quarter. The Badger State eventually sank.
15 January 1970 Captain Charles T Wilson of the Badger State testified that the cargo of bombs exploded after a huge wave threw the freighter on its side.
The weather at the time of the casualty was as follows: Strong westerly gale winds of 40-50 knots with visibility of 5 to 6 miles; hugh west-northwesterly swells which occasionally crested to heights 30 to 40 feet when merging with a secondary swell system from the west-southwest. The air temperature was 49 degrees F and the water temperature about 56 degrees F.
On 8 December 1969 the SS Badger State under time charter to the Military Sea Transportation Service arrived at Pier 91, Seattle, Washington, completing Voyage 46 and commencing Voyage 47. A Coast Guard mid-period inspection, as well as voyage repairs and preparations for another trip to Viet Nam carrying ammunition were started. Upon application by the Commanding Officer of the Seattle, Washington office of the Military Sea Transportation Service the U.S.Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Seattle, Washington issued a permit on 8 December 1969 for loading of the cargo on the Badger State under U.S.Naval supervision at the Naval Ammunition Depot, Bangor, Washington. After taking fresh water and capacity bunkers the vessel shifted to the Naval Ammunition Depot, Bangor on 8 December 1969 where voyage repairs, Coast Guard inspection and other preparations continued.
Loading of the explosive cargo commenced during the early evening of 9 Decmeber and continued on a two shift basis (day and swing) until completion on 14 December 1969. Weather during this period was damp and rainy for the most part. Partially loaded hatches were left uncovered during the graveyard shifts to facilitate changing of batteries in electric forklifts. Hatch tents were not used during loading operations.
On 10 December 1969 the Planning Department at Naval Ammunition Depot, Bangor made a change to the loading plans in order to improve.....
(Ship was 1,500 miles northeast of Hawaii and approximately 850 miles northeast of Midway Island, Pacific Ocean)
Kinnie Woods was a 3rd Assistant Engineer.
(Compilation from New York Times 26 December 1969 to 16 January 1970)
26 December 1969 A Vietnam-bound ammunition ship, carrying 8,900 bombs and rockets equal to 2,000 tons of TNT, was rocked by explosions and abandoned by her crew in rough seas 1,500 miles northeast of Hawaii.
27 December 1969 Fourteen crewmen were picked up by a Greek ship, the Khian Star, and a US Air Force HC130 rescue plane dropped life rafts and dye marker at the site. A Navy spokesman said the Badger State was carrying the rockets and bombs for the Air Force at Danang, South Vietnam under contract to the Military Sea Transportation Service. The bombs included 2,000 pounders which were loaded at the Bangor (Washington) Naval Ammunition Depot. At daybreak rescue planes and ships found no sign of the 26 missing men, some of whom were last seen clinging to life rafts in 20 foot seas. Heavy rains, high winds and thick clouds were impairing the search.
28 December 1969 Only one rescue vessel continued the hopeless search for the men. One body was recovered by the freighter American Dragon; at least four others were sighted, but surging seas prevented recovery. The Badger State was reported to be breaking up in heavy seas.
01 January 1970 The Navy abandoned plans to salvage the deserted munitions ship after the tugboat Abnaki nervously approached to within two miles of the freighter and reported fires still burning. The tug said the freighter had a 8 by 16 foot hole 4 feet above the water line in the starboard quarter. The Badger State eventually sank.
15 January 1970 Captain Charles T Wilson of the Badger State testified that the cargo of bombs exploded after a huge wave threw the freighter on its side.
The weather at the time of the casualty was as follows: Strong westerly gale winds of 40-50 knots with visibility of 5 to 6 miles; hugh west-northwesterly swells which occasionally crested to heights 30 to 40 feet when merging with a secondary swell system from the west-southwest. The air temperature was 49 degrees F and the water temperature about 56 degrees F.
On 8 December 1969 the SS Badger State under time charter to the Military Sea Transportation Service arrived at Pier 91, Seattle, Washington, completing Voyage 46 and commencing Voyage 47. A Coast Guard mid-period inspection, as well as voyage repairs and preparations for another trip to Viet Nam carrying ammunition were started. Upon application by the Commanding Officer of the Seattle, Washington office of the Military Sea Transportation Service the U.S.Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Seattle, Washington issued a permit on 8 December 1969 for loading of the cargo on the Badger State under U.S.Naval supervision at the Naval Ammunition Depot, Bangor, Washington. After taking fresh water and capacity bunkers the vessel shifted to the Naval Ammunition Depot, Bangor on 8 December 1969 where voyage repairs, Coast Guard inspection and other preparations continued.
Loading of the explosive cargo commenced during the early evening of 9 Decmeber and continued on a two shift basis (day and swing) until completion on 14 December 1969. Weather during this period was damp and rainy for the most part. Partially loaded hatches were left uncovered during the graveyard shifts to facilitate changing of batteries in electric forklifts. Hatch tents were not used during loading operations.
On 10 December 1969 the Planning Department at Naval Ammunition Depot, Bangor made a change to the loading plans in order to improve.....
(Ship was 1,500 miles northeast of Hawaii and approximately 850 miles northeast of Midway Island, Pacific Ocean)
Kinnie Woods was a 3rd Assistant Engineer.
SS Badger State Rocked by Blasts
(Compilation from New York Times 26 December 1969 to 16 January 1970)
26 December 1969 A Vietnam-bound ammunition ship, carrying 8,900 bombs and rockets equal to 2,000 tons of TNT, was rocked by explosions and abandoned by her crew in rough seas 1,500 miles northeast of Hawaii.
27 December 1969 Fourteen crewmen were picked up by a Greek ship, the Khian Star, and a US Air Force HC130 rescue plane dropped life rafts and dye marker at the site. A Navy spokesman said the Badger State was carrying the rockets and bombs for the Air Force at Danang, South Vietnam under contract to the Military Sea Transportation Service. The bombs included 2,000 pounders which were loaded at the Bangor (Washington) Naval Ammunition Depot. At daybreak rescue planes and ships found no sign of the 26 missing men, some of whom were last seen clinging to life rafts in 20 foot seas. Heavy rains, high winds and thick clouds were impairing the search.
28 December 1969 Only one rescue vessel continued the hopeless search for the men. One body was recovered by the freighter American Dragon; at least four others were sighted, but surging seas prevented recovery. The Badger State was reported to be breaking up in heavy seas.
01 January 1970 The Navy abandoned plans to salvage the deserted munitions ship after the tugboat Abnaki nervously approached to within two miles of the freighter and reported fires still burning. The tug said the freighter had a 8 by 16 foot hole 4 feet above the water line in the starboard quarter. The Badger State eventually sank.
15 January 1970 Captain Charles T Wilson of the Badger State testified that the cargo of bombs exploded after a huge wave threw the freighter on its side.
The weather at the time of the casualty was as follows: Strong westerly gale winds of 40-50 knots with visibility of 5 to 6 miles; hugh west-northwesterly swells which occasionally crested to heights 30 to 40 feet when merging with a secondary swell system from the west-southwest. The air temperature was 49 degrees F and the water temperature about 56 degrees F.
On 8 December 1969 the SS Badger State under time charter to the Military Sea Transportation Service arrived at Pier 91, Seattle, Washington, completing Voyage 46 and commencing Voyage 47. A Coast Guard mid-period inspection, as well as voyage repairs and preparations for another trip to Viet Nam carrying ammunition were started. Upon application by the Commanding Officer of the Seattle, Washington office of the Military Sea Transportation Service the U.S.Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Seattle, Washington issued a permit on 8 December 1969 for loading of the cargo on the Badger State under U.S.Naval supervision at the Naval Ammunition Depot, Bangor, Washington. After taking fresh water and capacity bunkers the vessel shifted to the Naval Ammunition Depot, Bangor on 8 December 1969 where voyage repairs, Coast Guard inspection and other preparations continued.
Loading of the explosive cargo commenced during the early evening of 9 Decmeber and continued on a two shift basis (day and swing) until completion on 14 December 1969. Weather during this period was damp and rainy for the most part. Partially loaded hatches were left uncovered during the graveyard shifts to facilitate changing of batteries in electric forklifts. Hatch tents were not used during loading operations.
On 10 December 1969 the Planning Department at Naval Ammunition Depot, Bangor made a change to the loading plans in order to improve.....
(Ship was 1,500 miles northeast of Hawaii and approximately 850 miles northeast of Midway Island, Pacific Ocean)
Kinnie Woods was a 3rd Assistant Engineer.
(Compilation from New York Times 26 December 1969 to 16 January 1970)
26 December 1969 A Vietnam-bound ammunition ship, carrying 8,900 bombs and rockets equal to 2,000 tons of TNT, was rocked by explosions and abandoned by her crew in rough seas 1,500 miles northeast of Hawaii.
27 December 1969 Fourteen crewmen were picked up by a Greek ship, the Khian Star, and a US Air Force HC130 rescue plane dropped life rafts and dye marker at the site. A Navy spokesman said the Badger State was carrying the rockets and bombs for the Air Force at Danang, South Vietnam under contract to the Military Sea Transportation Service. The bombs included 2,000 pounders which were loaded at the Bangor (Washington) Naval Ammunition Depot. At daybreak rescue planes and ships found no sign of the 26 missing men, some of whom were last seen clinging to life rafts in 20 foot seas. Heavy rains, high winds and thick clouds were impairing the search.
28 December 1969 Only one rescue vessel continued the hopeless search for the men. One body was recovered by the freighter American Dragon; at least four others were sighted, but surging seas prevented recovery. The Badger State was reported to be breaking up in heavy seas.
01 January 1970 The Navy abandoned plans to salvage the deserted munitions ship after the tugboat Abnaki nervously approached to within two miles of the freighter and reported fires still burning. The tug said the freighter had a 8 by 16 foot hole 4 feet above the water line in the starboard quarter. The Badger State eventually sank.
15 January 1970 Captain Charles T Wilson of the Badger State testified that the cargo of bombs exploded after a huge wave threw the freighter on its side.
The weather at the time of the casualty was as follows: Strong westerly gale winds of 40-50 knots with visibility of 5 to 6 miles; hugh west-northwesterly swells which occasionally crested to heights 30 to 40 feet when merging with a secondary swell system from the west-southwest. The air temperature was 49 degrees F and the water temperature about 56 degrees F.
On 8 December 1969 the SS Badger State under time charter to the Military Sea Transportation Service arrived at Pier 91, Seattle, Washington, completing Voyage 46 and commencing Voyage 47. A Coast Guard mid-period inspection, as well as voyage repairs and preparations for another trip to Viet Nam carrying ammunition were started. Upon application by the Commanding Officer of the Seattle, Washington office of the Military Sea Transportation Service the U.S.Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Seattle, Washington issued a permit on 8 December 1969 for loading of the cargo on the Badger State under U.S.Naval supervision at the Naval Ammunition Depot, Bangor, Washington. After taking fresh water and capacity bunkers the vessel shifted to the Naval Ammunition Depot, Bangor on 8 December 1969 where voyage repairs, Coast Guard inspection and other preparations continued.
Loading of the explosive cargo commenced during the early evening of 9 Decmeber and continued on a two shift basis (day and swing) until completion on 14 December 1969. Weather during this period was damp and rainy for the most part. Partially loaded hatches were left uncovered during the graveyard shifts to facilitate changing of batteries in electric forklifts. Hatch tents were not used during loading operations.
On 10 December 1969 the Planning Department at Naval Ammunition Depot, Bangor made a change to the loading plans in order to improve.....
(Ship was 1,500 miles northeast of Hawaii and approximately 850 miles northeast of Midway Island, Pacific Ocean)
Kinnie Woods was a 3rd Assistant Engineer.
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