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The United States Navy Memorial

Navy Memorial Honoring the Men & Women of the Sea Services

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Skill

Ship Designation: 
AM-115
Date Lost: 
Saturday, September 25, 1943
Catastrophic Explosion
While on patrol station Skill suffered a catastrophic explosion in her forward magazine. This was probably due to a submarine's torpedo because a survivor, whose station was on the bridge, later reported having seen a wake of undetermined origin paralleling the ship at a distance of about 150 yards. Skill was blown in half and the forward section capsized. The after half caught fire, and the flames moved aft until that section exploded and sank. Ten minutes later the capsized bow slipped beneath the waves. Of her 103 officers and men, none of the officers and only 32 of the men survived..

Lost At Sea Log

Number of sailors in this log: 69

Namesort descending Service Branch
F 1c Howard Mellody USN
EM 1c Arnold Moore USN
CQM Albert Nichols USN
Lt Frank Olender USN
Y 1c Henry Parks USN
MM 3c William Phillips USN
EM 3c Richard Porter USN
Sea 1c Edward Rideout USN
RDM 2c Walter Romanowicz USN
Ens Edward Ross USN
MOMM 1c Bert Seratt USN
EM 3c Norris Sharp USN
EM 3c Frank Speece USN
CEM James Stewart USN
MOMM 2c Innocenzo Strazzere USN
MOMM 2c James Stringer USN
SC 3c John Sweat USN
Lt(jg) Benjamin Swett USN
RT 1c John Thatcher USN
Sea 2c Bruce Thoman USN

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Submitted by Capt. Robt. Strange USN Ret.