I found information about two ships named BLACK HAWK, neither of which had a Dutch connection. The first BLACK HAWK I found was a “Hog Islander,” so-called after the location of the shipyard in which she was built, Hog Island in Philadelphia. This BLACK HAWK was completed in 1919 with the original name of SACO. She was renamed BLACK HAWK in 1932 and retained that name until 1941. See http://shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/emergencylarge/aisc.htm and scroll to hull number 496. In 1939, BLACK HAWK was one of many U.S. vessels temporarily detained by the British, presumably out of suspicion of the nature of their cargoes. BLACK HAWK was in fact detained twice, the first time on September 19, 1939, and held for 16 days, the second time on November 13, 1939, but apparently released immediately. See http://www.usmm.org/sunk39-41.html. In 1941 the ship was renamed GREEN MOUTAIN, under which name she survived the war. Note that in 1939 the ship would not have had an Armed Guard unit aboard; the first time the Armed Guard was deployed aboard a ship was in December 1941, immediately after Pearl Harbor.
The second BLACK HAWK was a Liberty ship, constructed by the Delta Shipbuilding Corp. in New Orleans between December 1942 and February 1943. See http://shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/emergencylarge/delta.htm and scroll to hull number 34. On December 29, 1944, while in convoy TBC-21 and sailing through the English Channel, BLACK HAWK was hit by a torpedo from U-322. Four crewmen were injured, including at least two Armed Guard sailors. One merchant crewman, the chief cook, later died. The ship was badly damaged and was towed ashore and declared a constructive total loss, i.e., damaged beyond repair. See https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/3406.html. Also see http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/LibshipsB.html and scroll to the name of the ship. This reference incorrectly identifies the attacking U-boat.
If you have any information about a BLACK HAWK that had a Dutch connection, please share it and I will see what else I can find.
Ron Carlson, Webmaster
Armed Guard / Merchant Marine website
www.armed-guard.com
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