On 26 January 1940 HMS Durham Castle, on passage from Rosyth to Scapa Flow, struck a mine laid on 21 January by U-57 and sank 3 miles east of Cromarty Firth, during a gale and in severe icy conditions.

The ship was in tow by the tug HMS Watermeyer for use as a blockship at Scapa Flow.

Date of attack

26 Jan 1940

Fate

Sunk by U-57 (Claus Korth)

Position Grid AN 1759

Route

to Scapa Flow

Torpedoed and Sunk - 1940

Vessel

Built

Service

Armaments

Tonnage

HMS Durham Castle

1904

Ex Durham Castle

1939 Requisitioned as accomodation and stores ship

1940 Mined and sunk off Cromarty

None

8217

Official Number

Ship Builder

Engine Builder

Engine Type

HP

Screws

118387

Fairfield

Glasgow

Fairfield

Glasgow

2 x Quadruple Expansion Steam

969 NHP

2

Career Summary

History

Completed in February 1904 as steam passenger ship Durham Castle for Union-Castle Mail SS Co Ltd, London. 1939 requisitioned by the Admiralty as stores and accommodation ship HMS Durham Castle.

Notes on loss

On 26 Jan, 1940, HMS Durham Castle struck a mine laid on 21 January by U-57 and sank 11 miles northeast of Cromarty, Scotland. The ship was in tow for Scapa Flow for use as an accommodation ship.

HMS Durham Castle

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