Gretafield
The burning Gretafield
| Name | Gretafield | ||
| Type: | Steam tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 10.191 tons | ||
| Completed | 1928 - Cammell Laird & Co Ltd, Birkenhead | ||
| Owner | Hunting & Son Ltd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne | ||
| Homeport | Newcastle | ||
| Date of attack | 14 Feb, 1940 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | A total loss by U-57 (Claus Korth) | ||
| Position | 58.27N, 02.33W - Grid AN 1671 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 41 (10 dead and 31 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | HX-18 (straggler) | ||
| Route | Curaçao (18 Jan) - Halifax (31 Jan) - Invergordon | ||
| Cargo | 13.000 tons of fuel oil | ||
| History | Completed in May 1928 | ||
| Notes on loss | At 01.35 hours on 14 Feb, 1940, the Gretafield (Master Ernst Derricks), a straggler from convoy HX-18, was hit by one G7a torpedo from U-57 southeast of Noss Head. The tanker caught fire after being hit aft by one G7e torpedo at 01.48 hours. Ten crew members were lost. The master and 30 crew members were picked up by the British armed trawlers HMS Peggy Nutten (4.450) (Skipper J.C. Taylor) and HMS Strathalladale (4.458) and landed at Wick. The burning Gretafield drifted ashore at Dunbeath, Caithnesshire in 58°14´15N/03°25´45W. On 19 March, the tanker broke in two and was declared a total loss. | ||
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