Empire Lytton
The burning Empire Lytton
| Name | Empire Lytton | ||
| Type: | Steam tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 9.807 tons | ||
| Completed | 1942 - Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill, Middlesbrough | ||
| Owner | Harris & Dixon Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 9 Jan, 1943 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-442 (Hans-Joachim Hesse) | ||
| Position | 28.08N, 28.20W - Grid DG 8635 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 48 (14 dead and 34 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | TM-1 | ||
| Route | Curaçao - Trinidad - Gibraltar | ||
| Cargo | 12.500 tons of aviation spirit | ||
| History | Built for Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) | ||
| Notes on loss | At 07.27 hours on 9 Jan, 1943, U-442 attacked the convoy TM-1 west of the Canary Islands (grid DG 9411) and claimed hits on two tankers, but in fact only one torpedo had hit the Empire Lytton (Master John William Andrews). The chief officer, 12 crew members and one gunner were lost. The master, 30 crew members and three gunners were picked up by the HMS Saxifrage (K 04) (Lt N.L. Knight) and landed at Gibraltar. The HMS Havelock (H 88) (Cdr Richard C. Boyle DSC) failed to sink the wreck with gunfire. At 14.50 hours on 9 January, U-442 found the drifting tanker and torpedoed her again, but the tanker remained afloat and only sank after a further torpedo hit at 19.38 hours. | ||
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