Pass of Balmaha
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| Name | Pass of Balmaha | ||
| Type: | Steam tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 758 tons | ||
| Completed | 1933 - Blythswood Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Glasgow | ||
| Owner | James Cook & Co Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 17 Oct, 1941 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-97 (Udo Heilmann) | ||
| Position | 31.14N, 28.50E - Grid CP 7189 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 18 (18 dead - no survivors) | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Alexandria - Tobruk | ||
| Cargo | Petrol | ||
| History | On 22 Jun, 1941, the Pass of Balmaha left Alexandria with a cargo of petrol for the besieged Tobruk, escorted by HMS Auckland (L 61) and the HMAS Parramatta (L 44). Two days later they were attacked in rolling attacks by German and Italian bombers, which sank the HMS Auckland (L 61) and damaged the tanker, which was taken in tow for Tobruk by HMAS Waterhen (D 22) at dusk, escorted by HMAS Vendetta (D 69). Some repairs were made in Tobruk and the tanker returned under escort by the HMAS Parramatta (L 44) to Alexandria, where they arrived on 30 June. | ||
| Notes on loss | At 00.55 hours on 17 Oct, 1941, U-97 spotted a small convoy, consisting of the Samos and Pass of Balmaha under escort by the British armed trawler HMS Cocker about 50 miles west of Alexandria. A first spread of three torpedoes at 02.17 hours missed, but a second spread of two torpedoes at 03.25 hours hit and sank the Samos. The second merchant was sunk with a spread of two torpedoes at 04.00 hours. The Pass of Balmaha (Master Stanley Kirby Hardy) was hit by one torpedo and disappeared in a flaming inferno, a cloud of smoke and flames was seen rising about 300 metres. The master, 15 crew members and two gunners were lost. | ||
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