“I’m enjoying your latest issue, November 2004, as usual. On page 5 in the article about ships sunk by U-211, the writer didn’t know the ESSO WILLIAMSBURG’’s speed and draft. I can add that for you, from “Ships of the Esso Fleet in World War II” published by the Standard Oil Company, using firsthand accounts and log entries when possible. All hands were lost aboard the WILLIAMSBURG, so no log entries or personal recollections are available from the American side. However, the book, on page 407, says the ship had a classification certified speed of 15.2 knots and draft of 30’ 4˝”. She was of 17,950 deadweight tons and had capacity to carry 153,704 barrels. Her captain when she went down in September 1942 was John Tweed. She was carrying 110,043 barrels of Navy fuel oil destined for Reykjavik, leaving Aruba 12 September. I was a boy in Aruba at the time, my Dad and his two brothers all working in the refinery there.”