Ships hit by U-boats


HMS Salvia (K 97)

British Corvette



Photo from Imperial War Museum (IWM), FL-18637

NameHMS Salvia (K 97)
Type:Corvette (Flower)
Tonnage925 tons
Completed1940 - William Simons & Co Ltd, Renfrew 
OwnerThe Admiralty 
Homeport 
Date of attack24 Dec 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-568 (Joachim Preuss)
Position31° 46'N, 28° 00'E - Grid CO 6878
Complement106 officers and men (106 dead - no survivors)
ConvoyTA-5
RouteTobruk - Alexandria 
Cargo 
History Completed in September 1940 
Notes on event

On 23 Dec 1941, HMS Salvia (K 97) (LtCdr John Isdale Miller, DSO, DSC, RD, RNR) was escorting convoy TA-5 when Shuntien was sunk by U-559 (Heidtmann). The ship carried 850 prisoners of war and the corvette stayed behind to collect survivors but was not seen again, only oil and wreckage was found by HMS Peony (K 40) about 100 miles west of Alexandria. At 01.35 hours on 24 December, U-568 had fired a spread of four torpedoes at HMS Salvia (K 97) which was hit by one of them and broke in two. The stern part sank rapidly while burning oil covered the sea and the fore part followed after a few minutes. All four officers and 54 ratings were lost together with the master, 47 crew members and an unknown number of gunners and prisoners from the Shuntien.

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 59 people who were on board


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Media links


U-Boat Attack Logs

Daniel Morgan and Bruce Taylor


amazon.co.uk
(£ 38.25)

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