HMS Rajputana (F 35)
British Armed Merchant Cruiser
| Name | HMS Rajputana (F 35) | ||
| Type: | Armed Merchant Cruiser | ||
| Tonnage | 16,644 tons (one of the largest ships sunk). | ||
| Completed | 1926 - Harland & Wolff Ltd, Greenock | ||
| Owner | The Admiralty | ||
| Homeport | Greenock | ||
| Date of attack | 13 Apr 1941 | Nationality: | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-108 (Klaus Scholtz) | ||
| Position | 64.50N, 27.25W - Grid AD 5582 | ||
| Complement | 323 (40 dead and 283 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | HX-117 (dispersed) | ||
| Route | |||
| Cargo | |||
| History | Completed in December 1925 as steam passenger ship Rajputana for P. & O. Steam Navigation Co Ltd, London. On 4 Sep, 1939 requisitioned by the Admiralty, converted to an armed merchant cruiser and commissioned in December 1939 as HMS Rajputana (F 35). | ||
| Notes on loss | At 07.43 hours on 13 Apr, 1941, HMS Rajputana (F 35) (Capt F.H. Taylor, DSC, Rtd, RN) was hit by one torpedo from U-108 west of Reykjavik. She had been the ship of the convoy commodore Cdr C.T.O. Richardson in convoy HX-117 but was then dispatched to patrol the Strait of Denmark. The armed merchant cruiser had been first spotted by the U-boat at 09.45 hours on 11 April and was followed while she was patrolling on a zigzag course at high speed and sometimes making 180° turns. The chase was hampered by problems with the periscope, pack ice and snow. A first spread of two torpedoes fired at 18.08 hours on 11 April missed like the next two torpedoes fired at 20.46 and 20.48 hours on 12 April. A fifth torpedo at 07.40 hours on 13 April missed, but the sixth at 07.43 hours hit in the stern and caused a fire on the ship, which then fired at the periscope. A first coup de grāce at 08.23 hours malfunctioned, but the next torpedo at 09.30 hours struck in the after part and caused the ship to sink by the stern with a list to port. The commodore, four officers and 35 ratings were lost. 283 survivors were picked up by HMS Legion (F 74) (Cdr R.F. Jessel, RN) and landed at Reykjavik. | ||
| Crewlists | We have listing of 44 people who were on this vessel | ||
Location of attack on HMS Rajputana (F 35).
ship sunk.
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