Ships hit by U-boats


Empire Dell

British Catapult armed merchant



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameEmpire Dell
Type:Catapult armed merchant (CAM)
Tonnage7,065 tons
Completed1941 - Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow 
OwnerGeorge Nisbet & Co, Glasgow 
HomeportGreenock 
Date of attack12 May 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-124 (Johann Mohr)
Position53° 00'N, 29° 57'W - Grid AK 9435
Complement48 (2 dead and 46 survivors).
ConvoyONS-92
RouteGarston (6 May) - Halifax 
CargoBallast 
History Completed in August 1941 for Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) 
Notes on event

At 01.56, 01.59 and 02.06 hours on 12 May 1942, U-124 fired torpedoes at convoy ONS-92 southeast of Cape Farewell and observed hits on three ships. At 02.22 hours, U-124 made a second attack and observed one hit amidships after 1 minute 56 seconds. Mohr claimed three ships totalling 16.100 tons sunk. However, only two ships were hit at the time of the first attack, the Empire Dell and Llanover.

The master, 38 crew members and seven passengers (RAF personnel) from the Empire Dell (Master Hugh MacKinnon) were rescued. 25 survivors were picked up by HMCS Shediac (K 110) (T/Lt J.E. Clayton, RCNR) and landed at St. John’s, Newfoundland on 17 May. 21 survivors were picked up by the British rescue ship Bury (Master Lawrence Edwin Brown, OBE) and landed at St. John’s on 16 May. Two crew members were lost.

 
On boardWe have details of 5 people who were on board


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