King Alfred (2)

Date of attack

4 Aug 1940

Fate

Sunk by U-52 (Otto Salman)

Position 56.59N, 17.38W - Grid AL 0344

Complement

41 (7 dead and 34 survivors).

Convoy

HX-60

Route

St.Johns - Halifax - Methil

Torpedoed and Sunk in The North Atlantic - 1940

King Alfred Left St Johns For Methil Lost 4 August 1940		Fate
Master	R Storm	Survived
Second Engineer	J E MacRae	Lost
Third Engineer	W E Jones	Lost
Ordinary Seamen	A Clegg R M C Holliday	Both Lost
Firemen/Trimmers	C Brawley J McEvoy	Both Lost
Greaser	F Symington	Lost
Cook	G Bartlett	Lost

Cargo

6750 tons of pit props

History

Launched as War Azalea, completed in September 1919 as King Alfred

Notes on loss

At 03.35 and 03.38 hours on 4 Aug, 1940, U-52 fired torpedoes at the convoy HX-60 about 300 miles west-northwest of Bloody Foreland and sank the King Alfred and Gogovale.

The King Alfred (Master Richard Storm) broke in two, the bow sank and the stern was sunk by HMS Vanoc (H 33) (LtCdr J.G.W. Deneys), which also picked up the master and 33 crew members and landed them at Liverpool.

Seven crew members were lost.

Vessel

Built

Service

Tonnage

King Alfred (2)

1919

Ex War Azalea

1919 Purchased renamed King Alfred

1940 Torpedoed and sunk in Atlantic

5275

Official Number

Ship Builder

Engine Builder

Engine Type

Screws

137268

Wm Doxford

Sunderland

Wm Doxford

Sunderland

Steam 3 Cyl

2500 IHP