Ships hit by U-boats


Stonepool

British Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of Paul Johnson Collection

NameStonepool
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage4,803 tons
Completed1928 - Smith´s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank, Middlesbrough 
OwnerSir R. Ropner & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool 
HomeportWest Hartlepool 
Date of attack11 Sep 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-207 (Fritz Meyer)
Position63° 05'N, 37° 50'W - Grid AD 63
Complement49 (42 dead and 7 survivors).
ConvoySC-42
RouteMontreal - Sydney (30 Aug) - Avonmouth 
Cargo7000 tons of grain, 528 tons of oats and 115 tons of trucks 
History Completed in July 1928

About 08.30 hours on 13 Oct 1939, the Stonepool, dispersed from convoy OB-17, was damaged by gunfire from U-42 (Dau) south of Bantry Bay in position 48°40N/15°30W. The ship was en route from Barry to St. Vincent loaded with 6600 tons of coal and general cargo. After ten minutes, the U-boat was forced to dive by the accurate returned fire, leaving the deck gun crew in the water. While the Germans surfaced again to pick up their men, the steamer sent distress signals which brought HMS Ilex (D 61) (LtCdr P.L. Saumarez, RN) and HMS Imogen (D 44) (Cdr E.B.K. Stevens, RN) to the scene. At 18.55 hours, the steamer spotted the U-boat on the surface, which was shortly thereafter sunk by the destroyers. 
Notes on event

At 02.45 hours on 11 Sep 1941 the Stonepool at station #111 and five minutes later the Berury at station #112 in convoy SC-42 were torpedoed and sunk east of Cape Farewell. There are no attack reports for this time from the German side, so the attacker must have been U-207, which was sunk a few hours later by the escorts.

The master, 33 crew members and eight gunners from Stonepool (Master Joseph Hewitson Nicholson) were lost. Six crew members and one gunner were picked up by HMCS Kenogami (K 125) (LtCdr R. Jackson, RCNVR) and landed at Loch Ewe.

 
On boardWe have details of 42 people who were on board

Attack entries for Stonepool

DateU-boatCommanderLoss typeTonsNat.
13 Oct 1939U-42Kptlt. Rolf DauDamaged4,803  
11 Sep 1941U-207Oblt. Fritz MeyerSunk4,803  


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