The SS Gulfamerica was an American steam tanker built by Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards Inc, of Sparrow's Point, Maryland and completed in March 1942.

Gulfamerica's maiden voyage was to take her from Port Arthur, Texas, to New York, carrying a cargo of 101,500 barrels of furnace oil.

The torpedo struck at the #7 tank on the starboard side and caused a large explosion and subsequent fire.

After the initial torpedo strike, the commander of U-123, Kapitänleutnant Reinhard Hardegen, surfaced his boat to finish the stricken tanker.

He therefore navigated around the Gulfamerica, placing himself between the shore and the tanker, and ensuring that shots that missed would land in the sea.

Despite the highly illuminated coastline providing easy targets for the U-boats engaged in Operation Drumbeat, it still took a number of months for the government to organise an effective blackout, after which losses dropped.

"[3] The Liberty ship SS Michael James Monahan was named after a crewman lost aboard the Gulfamerica.