USN
Ammunition Ship
Sunk
November 10, 1944
by accidental explosion
July 1944
November 10, 1944
Wartime
History
Berthed
on November 10, 1944 in Seeadler
Harbor off Manus
Ammunition Explosion
The ship accidentally exploded, with great loss of
life and extensive damage to shore installations and
other vessels in the area. The entire crew were killed, except
18 men who were on mail pickup detail off the ship, and more than 20 other smaller harbor craft. In all, 378 were killed and 372 wounded.
The USS Argonne was hit by 221 pieces of debris, and recovered 1,300 pounds of wreckage in a search for survivors.
Steve Nazzise adds:
"A troop transport ship
called the Chateau Thieery was
tied up and ready to depart about 300 yards from the Mt. Hood when
she exploded.
She was one of the troop transports bringing the PT Boaters back home along
with other troops from the battle fields of the Pacific."
