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Allied Ships hit by U-boats


HMS Kimberley (F 50)


NameHMS Kimberley (F 50)
Type:Destroyer (K-class)
Tonnage1.690 tons
Completed1939 - John I. Thornycroft & Co, Southampton 
OwnerThe Admiralty 
Homeport 
Date of attack12 Jan, 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateDamaged by U-77 (Heinrich Schonder)
Position32.18N, 24.43E - Grid CO 6774
- See location on a map -
Complement? men (3 dead and ? survivors).
Convoy 
Route 
Cargo 
History

On 20 Oct, 1940, the convoy BN-7, consisting of 32 merchants under escort by HMNZS Leander (C 75), HMS Kimberley (F 50), HMAS Yarra (L 77), HMS Auckland (L 61), HMIS Indus (L 67), HMS Derby (J 90) and HMS Huntley (J 56) was unsuccessfully attacked in the Red Sea by the Italian destroyers Pantera, Leone, Nazario Sauro and Franceso Nullo based at Massawa, Eritrea.
The Francesco Nullo (KKpt Borsini) was driven ashore near Massawa by gunfire from the destroyer, which was herself hit by coastal artillery and had to be towed to Port Sudan. The wrecked Italian destroyer was destroyed the next day by three Blenheim bombers of 45. RAF-Sqdn.

On 30 Mar, 1949, HMS Kimberley (F 50) was sold for scrap and broken up at Troon.

 
Notes on loss At 01.57 hours on 12 Jan, 1942, U-77 sighted two destroyers off Tobruk and fired at 02.38 hours a spread of four torpedoes of which one hit the stern of HMS Kimberley (F 50) (Cdr J.S.M. Richardson, DSO, RN). The explosion blew her stern off and immediately stopped the vessel, which was missed by a coup de grâce at 02.45 hours. The destroyer was towed to Alexandria by HMS Heythrop (L 85) (LtCdr R.S. Stafford, RN) and after temporary repairs towed in February 1942 to Bombay, where she was repaired and returned to service in January 1944. 


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