Ships hit by U-boats


Empire Blanda

British Steam merchant


We don't have a picture of this vessel at this time.


NameEmpire Blanda
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage5,693 tons
Completed1919 - Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow 
OwnerLarrinaga & Co Ltd, Liverpool 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack19 Feb 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-69 (Jost Metzler)
PositionGrid AL 3124
Complement40 (40 dead - no survivors)
ConvoyHX-107 (straggler)
RouteBaltimore - Halifax - Grangemouth 
CargoScrap iron, steel and explosives 
History Built as British Nile for Nile SS Co, Glasgow; 1933 renamed Yugoslavian Sokol for Jugoslavenska Plovidba DD, Susak; 1939 renamed Panamanian Rio Grande for Compañía Panamena de Vapores Ltda, Panama.
1940 taken over by Britain and renamed Empire Blanda by Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). 
Notes on loss

On 18 Feb, 1941, the Empire Blanda (Master George Allan Duncan) was reported missing south of Iceland after straggling from convoy HX-107. The master, 36 crew members and three gunners were lost.
At 08.18 hours on 19 February, a lone freighter was hit by one torpedo from U-69 south of Iceland and sank in a few seconds after four heavy detonations, this must have been the Empire Blanda. The ship had been missed by a two torpedo spread at 07.44 hours and a single torpedo at 08.01 hours. The U-boat was almost hit by falling debris.

 
CrewlistsWe have listing of 40 people who were on this vessel 

Location of attack on Empire Blanda.

ship sunk.


* 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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