Ocean Crusader

A typical “Ocean” type vessel as built by Todd-Bath

Torpedoed and Sunk in The North Atlantic - 1942

Date of attack

26 Nov 1942

Fate

Sunk by U-262 (Rudolf Heinz Franke)

Position

50° 30'N, 45° 30'W - Grid BC 2217

Complement

50 (50 dead - no survivors)

Convoy

HX-216 (straggler)

Route

Portland, Maine - Panama - New York (19 Nov) - Avonmouth

Cargo

8891 tons of general cargo

History

Completed in November 1942 for Ministry of War Transport (MoWT)

Notes on event

At 16.57 hours on 26 November 1942 the unescorted Ocean Crusader (Master Ellis Wynne Parry) on her maiden voyage was hit on the port side fore and amidships by two of three G7e torpedoes fired by U-262 about 330 miles northeast of St. John’s, Newfoundland.

The ship was a straggler from station #114 in convoy HX-216 owing to stress of heavy weather in 50°N/47°W during the night of 25 November and was apparently heading for St. John’s when spotted and attacked by the U-boat in dense fog.

The Germans observed how the ship stopped after being hit, fired two flares and slowly settled by the bow. Heavy seas with a high swell prevented the use of the deck gun, so they tried to sink the ship by firing their last torpedo, but it missed. U-262 left the area after half an hour when Ocean Crusader was seen to be down by the head with the rudder and screw out of the water.

Her radio operator had managed to send a distress signal, but no survivors were ever found.

The master, 44 crew members and five gunners were lost.

Ocean Crusader Left Portland For Avonmouth via Panama & New York Lost 26 November 1942
Master	E W Parry
Chief Officer	H Thomas
Second Officer	W J Minton
Third Officer	T Cook
First Radio Officer	H F Smith
Second Radio Officer	J B Thomson
Third Radio Officer	S R Matthew
Chief Engineer	H W Cook
Second Engineer	C R Counsell
Third Engineer	J A Dadds
Fourth Engineer	J Malley
Chief Steward	J McCormack
Bosun	A Williamson
Carpenter	T J Preece
Able Seamen	T P Pounder A H John R Martin J O’Brien R Sheehan T Walker H C Yates
Ordinary Seamen	C E Braxton F L Davies N T McAree
Donkeymen	G Clark
Greaser	J F Brown A J Daley H Glass
Firemen	T Bell B Edwards V Farrugia W H Hobbs W Jones M McLean C Moseley M O’Dea R Packer S G Tovey W C Vaughan G A Weaver
Second Steward	N K Laking
Chief Cook	A McPhee
Asst Cook	E Williamson
Mess Room Steward	A Hunter R Ward

Vessel	Built	Service	Tonnage
Ocean Crusader	1942	1942 Torpedoed and sunk in North Atlantic	7178

Official Number

Ship Builder

Engine Builder

Engine Type

Screws

615628

Todd-Bath

Portland ME

Allis Chambers

Canada

Triple Expansion Steam