Kars
British Motor tanker
The afterpart of the Kars lying beached near Halifax
| Name | Kars | ||
| Type: | Motor tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 8,888 tons | ||
| Completed | 1939 - Blythswood Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Glasgow | ||
| Owner | Western Oil Shipping Co Ltd (Baltic Trading Co), London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 22 Feb 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | A total loss by U-96 (Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock) | ||
| Position | 44° 15'N, 63° 25'W - Grid BB 7557 | ||
| Complement | 47 (46 dead and 1 survivor). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Trinidad (13 Feb) - Halifax - Belfast | ||
| Cargo | 12,700 tons of aviation spirit and fuel oil | ||
| History | Completed in March 1939 | ||
| Notes on event | At 22.57 hours on 22 February 1942 the unescorted Kars (Master Arthur Falconer) was hit by one G7e torpedo from U-96 about 25 miles south-southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The ship caught fire and broke in two three days later. The forepart sank and the afterpart was towed to Halifax, where it was beached on 27 February and declared at total loss. The master, 39 crew members and five gunners were lost. Two crew members were picked up by HMCS Melville (J 263) (T/Lt R.T. Ingram, RCNR) and taken to Halifax, but one of them died after being rescued. | ||
| On board | We have details of 47 people who were on board. | ||
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