Ville de Gand
Ville de Gand under her former name American Importer. Photo courtesy of the Allen Collection
| Name | Ville de Gand | ||
| Type: | Steam passenger ship | ||
| Tonnage | 7.590 tons | ||
| Completed | 1920 - American Int Shipbuilding Corp, Hog Island PA | ||
| Owner | Société Maritime Anversoise, Antwerp | ||
| Homeport | Antwerp | ||
| Date of attack | 19 Aug, 1940 | Nationality:  Belgian | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-48 (Hans Rudolf Rösing) | ||
| Position | 55.28N, 15.10W - Grid AM 4424 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 53 (15 dead and 38 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Liverpool - New York | ||
| Cargo | 1000 tons of shell bullets | ||
| History | Laid down as Siskowit, launched as Mount Black, completed in September 1920 as Somme for US Shipping Board (USSB). 1924 renamed American Importer for US Lines Co, New York. In February 1940 sold to Belgium and renamed Ville de Gand. | ||
| Notes on loss | At 00.05 hours on 19 Aug, 1940, the unescorted Ville de Gand (Master Raoul Carlier) was hit aft by one of two torpedoes fired by U-48 about 200 miles west of Ireland. The ship sank by the stern in 2 minutes after being hit by a G7e coup de grâce at 01.09 hours. The master and 14 crew members were lost. | ||
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