King Frederick (3)

Date of attack

19 Jul 1944

Fate

Sunk by U-181 (Kurt Freiwald)

Position 09.29N, 71.45E - Grid MS 7974

Complement

56 (27 dead and 29 survivors).

Route

Haifa - Port Said - Aden - Colombo - Calcutta

Cargo

6600 tons of salt and mail

Torpedoed and Sunk in The Indian Ocean - 1944

King Frederick Left Haifa For Calcutta via Port Said, Aden & Colombo Lost 19 July 1944		Fate
Master	R J Esslemont	Survived
Chief Officer	T Monkhouse	Lost
Third Officer	H O Jones	Lost
Radio Operator	J C G Robinson	Survived
Second Engineer	A F Cullen	Lost
Fourth Engineer	H C Lampriere	Lost
Chief Steward	N G Puckey	Lost
Carpenter	D H Rowlands	Lost
Donkeyman	E Ghalib	Lost
Greaser	A Abdulla	Lost
Firemen Trimmers	M Aden A Gubadleh H Hassan H Hersi O Hussein A Jama M A Musa J Noor W D Omar A Serrah	All Lost
Cook	H Kendrew	Lost
Asst Steward	W J Carver	Lost

Notes on loss

At 17.03 hours on 19 Jul, 1944, the unescorted King Frederick (Master Richard John Esslemont) was hit by one torpedo from U-181 in the Nine Degree Channel in the Arabian Sea.

The wreck was later dispersed. 20 crew members, five gunners and two passengers (military personnel) were lost. The master, 27 crew members and one gunner abandoned ship and were questioned by the Germans.

The survivors were picked up by the British Liberty ship Samshee and landed at Aden.

Vessel

Built

Service

Tonnage

King Fredrick (3)

1919

1923 Purchased from Government renamed King Frederick

1944 Torpedoed and sunk in Indian Ocean

5106

Official Number

Ship Builder

Engine Builder

Engine Type

Screws

146631

Hong Kong & Whampoa

Hong Kong

Hong Kong & Whampoa

Hong Kong

Steam 3 Cyl

2500 IHP

Master	Date	Left	Destination
C Ritch	7/1923 - 1924
R J Esslemont	7/1944	Haifa	Calcutta

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