Ships hit by U-boats


Corte Real

Portuguese Steam merchant



NameCorte Real
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage2,044 tons
Completed1922 - A. Vuijk & Zonen, Capelle an der Ijssel 
OwnerCia de Navegação Carregadores Açoreanos, São Miguel, Azores 
HomeportSão Miguel 
Date of attack12 Oct 1941Nationality:      Portuguese
 
FateSunk by U-83 (Hans-Werner Kraus)
Position38° 51'N, 11° 18'W - Grid CG 5445
Complement42 (0 dead and 42 survivors).
Convoy
RouteLisbon - Madeira - New York 
CargoCork, dyes, watches, wine and tinned food 
History Completed in June 1922 as Dutch Peursum for NV Stoomvaart Mij Oostzee (Vinke & Co), Amsterdam. 1934 sold to Portugal and renamed Corte Real
Notes on event

At 14.00 hours on 12 October 1941 the unescorted and neutral Corte Real was stopped for inspection by U-83 about 80 miles west of Lisbon. It was established that they were carrying contraband because most of the cargo was bound for Canada and Australia, so Kraus ordered the crew and passengers (among them women and children) to abandon ship in the three lifeboats. The U-boat then opened fire with the deck gun, setting the ship on fire and finally sank her with two torpedoes at 16.54 hours. When it was noticed that one of the lifeboats was taking on water, the Germans transferred the occupants to the other two boats and took them in tow towards the coast for 3 hours. The lifeboats later landed near Lisbon.

 


If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.

Return to Allied Ships hit by U-boats