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http://www.fox17online.com/videogall...l-Estero-06-08
The SS El Estero was an antiquated freighter of Panamanian registry that was kept in service carrying war supplies from the United States to Europe during World War II, including participation in Convoy PQ 13 in March 1942. On April 24, 1943, she had completed taking on 1,365 tons of ammunition and bombs when a fire broke out in her engine compartment.[2] Two other loaded ammunition ships were tied up near her at Caven Point pier 40.6815°N 74.067°W[3] in Bayonne, New Jersey, across the New York Harbor from Manhattan and Brooklyn. Including loaded railroad cars that were on the pier, over 5000 tons of explosives, comparable to a tactical nuclear weapon, could have been detonated in a potential explosion and flattened everything in a 5-mile radius.[4]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_El_Estero
See also
The El Estero Fire and How the United States Coast Guard Helped Save New York Harbor
http://www.coastguardchannel.com/spc...ElEstero.shtml
Note that the John J. Harvey fireboat also was pulled out of museum status on 11 September 2001
http://www.fireboat.org/
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