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Allied Ships hit by U-boats


Port Jackson


Photo courtesy of the Allen Collection

NamePort Jackson
Type:Motor merchant
Tonnage9.687 tons
Completed1937 - Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend, Sunderland 
OwnerPort Line Ltd, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack27 Aug, 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateDamaged by U-516 (Gerhard Wiebe)
PositionGrid AL 8728 - See estimated map location (54.46N20.30W) *
Complement? men (? dead and ? survivors).
Convoy 
RouteLa Plata - Buenos Aires - Montevideo (9 Aug) - Liverpool 
CargoRefrigerated and general cargo 
History Completed in January 1937

Post-war:
In 1952 the Port Jackson had to put into Table Bay where a smoldering fire in her cargo was extinguished after eight days. 1967 sold to Embajada Cia Naveira SA (K. Stergiopulos) and renamed Legation for one final commercial voyage to the Far East, where she was sold for scrap and broken up at Kure in April 1967. Her bell was presented to the Sydney Marine Underwriters & Salvage Association.

 
Notes on loss On 27 Aug, 1942, U-516 missed the unescorted Port Jackson with a spread of four torpedoes and then opened fire with the deck gun. The U-boat fired 14 rounds but had then to break off the attack due to the accurate return fire from the ship. She had been hit by two rounds that started a small fire, but managed to escaped at full speed (over 16 knots) and arrived safely at Liverpool on 29 August. 

* Estimated position shown here is based on positions of losses in a roughly the same German grid code. It may be a bit off but should give a good idea as to where the attack took place.


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