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

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.

1923 Purchased from Government renamed King Frederick

1944 Torpedoed and sunk in Indian Ocean