Re: The HMT Rohna - 1,015 Lost at Sea

Date: June 04, 2004

"1,000 men lost in attack on ship

North Canton veteran witnesses German hit, sinking of transport

Editor's note: We asked local World War II vets to send us their memories. Today we're pleased to present several.

Carl Guist of North Canton recalls being aboard the S.S. Karoa, operating under the British India flag, a few days before Thanksgiving 1943:

We were about 150 miles from Tunisia, en route to India, and I was resting in my bunk when our convoy was attacked by a force of German aircraft 30 strong. My buddies and I ran for topside.

The boat to our rear, the Rhona, was hit portside by a glider bomb. (This was a new type of weapon used by the Germans). She was gone in 30 minutes with a loss of 1,000 men. It was a horrible sight to see; men treading water or clinging to objects.

I was glad to hear later that some were rescued under such an impossible situation. After the war, news reports indicated that the sinking of the Rhona caused the greatest loss of lives for any single transport of troops.

Because the U.S. did not want the Germans to know their new glider (rocket) was successful, the incident was never reported until after the war ended.

©Olympia Beacon Journal"

NOTE FROM AII POW-MIA: The HMT Rohna was sunk 26 NOV 1943 off the coast of North Africa/Algeria. With the loss of this ship, the US suffered the greatest loss of life at sea. The UK registered troopship, with a crew of 195 and 7 Red Cross personnel, was transporting US troops, 1,981 US troops, to the CBI Theater. (China-Burma-India). By the morning of the 27th, 1,015 US troops, 3 Red Cross workers and 120 crewmen were lost.

The War Department suppressed the loss incident, sending to family members the following:

"December 29, 1943. (Name) was passenger aboard troop ship which was sunk as a result of enemy action. Ship struck at night and sank very rapidly. Despite every effort many American soldiers listed as missing as a result of this action. (Name) still listed as missing but little hope held that he is still alive."

To this day the USG refuses to discuss or disclose most of the information on this loss. A FOIA resulted in some material being released. The majority of families still do not know the status of their loved ones.

The Rohna Survivors Memorial Association may be visited at:

http://www.rohna.org/"