Ships hit by U-boats


HMS Matabele (G 26)

British Destroyer



NameHMS Matabele (G 26)
Type:Destroyer (Tribal)
Tonnage1,870 tons
Completed1939 - Scott´s Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Greenock 
OwnerThe Admiralty 
Homeport 
Date of attack17 Jan 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-454 (Burckhard Hackländer)
Position69.21N, 35.27E - Grid AC 8945
Complement200 officers and men (198 dead and 2 survivors).
ConvoyPQ-8
RouteUK - Murmansk 
Cargo 
History HMS Matabele (G 26) was completed in January 1939 
Notes on loss

At 22.21 hours on 17 Jan, 1942, HMS Matabele (G 26) (Cdr A.C. Stanford, DSC, RN), escorting convoy PQ-8, was hit by one torpedo from U-454 in the stern, which caused her magazines to blow up and the ship sank within two minutes off Kola Inlet. Her depth charges detonated and killed many survivors in the water, while others were frozen to death by the icy waters.

The U-boat had reported an earlier hit on a destroyer at 18.54 hours and a previous shot that missed. All attacks were probably against the same destroyer.

 
CrewlistsWe have listing of 236 people who were on this vessel 

Location of attack on HMS Matabele (G 26).

ship sunk.


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

Media links


U-Boat Attack Logs

Daniel Morgan and Bruce Taylor

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