The Misguided Missile
The Atlantic waters off the coast of Virginia would seem a safe enough sea- lane for an American tanker. But for a moment last week the crew of the 30,000-ton Western Sun must have wondered if they were in the Persian Gulf. Seemingly out of nowhere, an AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile blew a 2 1/2- ft. hole in the ship's superstructure. Fortunately, the errant missile was not armed with its customary exploding warhead and missed the ship's cargo of 26,000 bbl. of oil. The 9-ft. projectile was apparently launched during training maneuvers by an F-14 fighter from the Naval Air Station at Oceana, Va.
| Sun Ship Hull #: | 593 | Contract Date: | 1/22/1952 |
| Keel Laid: | 1/4/1954 | Time on Ways (M/D): | 9/12 |
| Date Delivered: | 12/16/1954 | Time in Wet Basin (M/D): | 2/0 |
| Total Time Bldg.: | 11/12 | Promised Delivery Date: | |
| D.W.T.: | 30200 | Propulsion: | STM/TURBINE |
| H.P.: | 13500 | Speed: | 16.5 |
| Sponsor: | MRS. C.H. THAYER, JR. | Delivery Price: | |
| Bbls. Capacity: | 251,114 | Launch Date: | 10/16/1954 |
| Previous Owner: | Previous Name: | ||
| Date Purchased: |
Date Sold: |
1988 | |
| Subsequent Owner: | Subsequent Name: | MOBILE BAY | |
| 1990 - BILE BAY | |||
| Length: | 615' | Beam: | 84' |
| Depth: | 45' | Class: | ABS |
| GWT: | 18810 | ||
| IMO Number: | 5388275 |
