Opawa
Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart
| Name | Opawa | ||
| Type: | Motor merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 10,354 tons | ||
| Completed | 1931 - A. Stephen & Sons Ltd, Linthouse, Glasgow | ||
| Owner | New Zealand Shipping Co Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 6 Feb 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-106 (Hermann Rasch) | ||
| Position | 38.21N, 61.13W - Grid CB 5682 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 71 (56 dead and 15 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Lyttelton - Cristobal - Halifax - UK | ||
| Cargo | 8575 tons of refrigerated foodstuffs, general cargo and 3000 tons of lead | ||
| History | Completed in April 1931 | ||
| Notes on loss | At 12.10 hours on 6 Feb, 1942, the unescorted Opawa (Master Wilfred George Evans) was hit amidships by one torpedo from U-106 about 400 miles north-northeast of Bermuda. The ship had been chased since 08.32 hours and stopped after the hit. The U-boat dived to get closer and observed the launching of four lifeboats. At 14.17 hours, U-106 surfaced and shelled the ship with 93 rounds until she sank at 14.59 hours. However, 54 crew members and two gunners were lost. The master and 14 crew members were picked up by the Dutch steam merchant Hercules and landed at New York. | ||
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