Vimeira
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| Name | Vimeira | ||
| Type: | Steam tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 5.728 tons | ||
| Completed | 1927 - R. Duncan & Co Ltd, Port Glasgow | ||
| Owner | Gow, Harrison & Co, Glasgow | ||
| Homeport | Glasgow | ||
| Date of attack | 11 Aug, 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-109 (Heinrich Bleichrodt) | ||
| Position | 10.03N, 28.55W - Grid ER 3611 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 45 (23 dead and 22 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Curaçao - Trinidad - Freetown | ||
| Cargo | 8100 tons of gas oil and fuel oil | ||
| History | | ||
| Notes on loss | At 19.13 hours on 11 Aug, 1942, the unescorted Vimeira (Master Norman Ross Caird) was hit aft by one of two torpedoes from U-109 about 500 miles southwest of the Cape Verde Islands. The stern broke off but the tanker remained afloat and was shelled by the U-boat after 20.00 hours until she caught fire and sank at 22.30 hours. The chief officer, 18 crew members and four gunners were lost. The master was taken prisoner, landed at Lorient on 6 October and transferred to the POW camp Milag Nord. 16 survivors in the lifeboat under charge of the second officer Duncan Campbell were picked up after two days by the British steam merchant Sylvia de Larrinaga (Master Alfred Grant Howe), which was torpedoed and sunk the next day by the Italian submarine Reginaldo Giuliani (Bruno) in 10°49N/33°35W. The men from Vimeria abandoned ship in their lifeboat again and were picked up after 29 days by the Siranger and landed at Takoradi. The second officer was awarded the MBE for his actions. Five survivors in another boat were picked up by HMS Crocus (K 49) (Lt J.F. Holm, RNR), transferred to the British cable ship Lady Denison Plender on 19 August and landed at Takoradi. | ||
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