The SS Winona was an American steam merchant vessel built in 1918 by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Kearny, New Jersey. Constructed according to U.S. Emergency Fleet Corporation design #1037, she was originally launched as The Lambs. Over her service life, she underwent several name changes, being renamed Exporter in 1928 and later Winona by 1937, when she was operated by the Weyerhaeuser Steamship Company and homeported in Everett, Washington. As a wartime vessel, Winona played an active role during World War II, primarily engaged in transatlantic convoy operations. She was scheduled to participate in the ill-fated convoy SC 7 but turned back due to engine trouble, thus avoiding the devastating U-boat attack that destroyed part of the convoy. During the war, she frequently traveled along the U.S. East Coast and the Caribbean, often carrying coal. Her involvement in convoys was crucial as German U-boat activity extended into American waters, notably during Operation Drumbeat. One of the most notable incidents in her wartime service occurred on 16 October 1942 when she was part of convoy TRIN-19 en route from Norfolk, Virginia, to Rio de Janeiro via Trinidad. The convoy was attacked by U-160, commanded by Georg Lassen. During the attack, a torpedo struck Winona's starboard side in her #2 hold, creating a large hole measuring 68 by 28 feet and causing immediate flooding. Despite the damage, her crew, under the command of Master John Beale Rynbergen, managed to control the flooding, secure sensitive documents, and evade further attack. The ship was able to reach Port of Spain the following day with no casualties among her crew of 56. After repairs in Port of Spain and Mobile, she returned to service, continuing her convoy duties. Later in the war, Winona was transferred to the Soviet Union in 1945, where she was renamed Akademik Pavlov. She remained in service until she was scrapped in the Soviet Union in 1974. Her career reflects the vital and perilous role of merchant ships in wartime convoy protection and logistics.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.