Ships hit by U-boats


Cape Rodney

British Steam merchant


We don't have a picture of this vessel at this time.


NameCape Rodney
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage4,512 tons
Completed1940 - Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow 
OwnerLyle Shipping Co Ltd, Glasgow 
HomeportGlasgow 
Date of attack5 Aug 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-75 (Helmuth Ringelmann)
Position53° 26'N, 15° 40'W - Grid AM 7151
Complement39 (0 dead and 39 survivors).
ConvoySL-81
RouteLagos - Freetown (15 Jul) - London 
Cargo7320 tons of palm kernels, groundnuts and manganese ore 
History  
Notes on event

At 05.20 hours on 5 Aug 1941, U-75 attacked convoy SL-81 west of Ireland and observed a column of fire and water after a first hit and a column of water after a second hit. Ringelmann then had to dive and was not able to make further observations.
The two ships hit were the Harlingen and the Cape Rodney.

The Cape Rodney (Master Peter Allan Wallace) was taken in tow by the tug HMS Zwarte Zee (W 163) two days later in 52°11N/14°42W. On 9 August, the ship foundered west of Ushant in 52°44N/11°41W. The master, 31 crew members and four gunners were picked up by the British corvette HMS Hydrangea (K 39) (Lt J.E. Woolfenden) and landed at Gourock. Three crew members were picked up by the corvette HMS Zinnia (K 98) (LtCdr C.G. Cuthberston) and landed at Londonderry.

 
On boardWe have details of 3 people who were on board


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