War Hostage
Ship Number
525
Vessel Type
Ao Type Tanker
Built
Govan Yard
Slip Number
A
Launch Date
October 16, 1917
Delivered
December 22, 1917
Owner
Shipping Controller - Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co
Weight
5181 grt
BP Length
400 feet
Breadth
52 feet
No. of Screws
Single
Speed (approx)
11.5 knots
Propulsion
steam, triple expansion, 517 nhp
Official No.
140443
Registered
London
Fate
Torpedoed
War Hostage

Other  names: Milazzo, Aldersgate, Mistley Hall, Kutais,  Dneprostroi, Ashkhabad.
 
The Ashkhabad was travelling "in ballast" from NY to Cuba being escorted by the ASW trawler Lady Elsa. They were running a zigzag course as ordered. 30th April 1942 the tanker was hit on the starboard side by U Boat (U.402). She was hit by a single torpedo and sunk by its stern end in the shallow water off Cape Lookout. The ship was abandoned for a later salvage attempt and all the crew were taken to Morehead City, NC by the Lady Elsa. 3rd May 1942, the destroyer USS Semmes DD-189, not aware of the intent to salvage and given standing orders to "sink wrecks that might be a menace to navigation", fired three shells into the Ashkhabad. Another armed trawler, HMS St. Zeno joined in the shelling and completed the destruction. The salvage ship/tug Relief SP-2170 arrived on the scene to find nothing left to save. The wreck was reduced even further later in the war and post-war.