Date of attack

28 Nov 1940

Nationality:     

British

Fate

Sunk by U-103 (Viktor Schütze)

Position

55° 30'N, 19° 30'W - Grid AL 6824

Complement

40 (24 dead and 16 survivors).

Convoy

OB-249 (dispersed)

Route

Hull - Santos

Cargo

Coal

Notes on event

At 20.24 hours on 28 Nov 1940 the St. Elwyn (Master Edward Thomas Alexander Daniells, DSC and bar), dispersed from convoy OB-249, was hit near the bridge by one torpedo from U-103 about 500 miles east of Bishop Rock.

The U-boat had spotted the ship at 09.51 hours and had to overtake her again after a first submerged attack failed due to the zigzag course.

The ship sank by the stern after being hit by a coup de grâce in the engine room at 20.27 hours.

The master and 23 crew members were lost. 16 crew members were picked up by the British merchant Leeds City and landed at Gourock.

1940 Torpedoed and sunk in N Atlantic