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| TheThomas T. Tucker was a American Liberty Ship, built in 1942 and was intended for carrying troops and supplies during World War II.
The ship was armed with fore, aft and midship guns and her hull was an all-welded construction, because it was faster than riveting the hull plates. During World War II the Cape coast was actively patroled by German U-boats. For this reason, in rough water, the Thomas T. Tucker, hugged the coast. Thinking that she was near Robben Island, and not too far from Cape Town, her crew relaxed. |
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That night the fog was terribly bad and unbeknown to the crew the ship's compass was out by 37°. She ran aground and the captain reported the ship's position as being around the island.
He was reliably informed that he was in fact off Cape Point and had missed Cape Town by 26 nautical miles! The coaster Swazi came to the rescue of the crew and valuable supplies. A tug tried to pull her off the rocks, but the weather turned worse and the ropes broke.
The rock that she hit was in fact near Olifantsbos just off the Point. This is where she lies today in three sections on the Olifantsbos beach. | |
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