Ships hit by U-boats


Eastern Sword

American Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of John Lochhead

NameEastern Sword
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage3,785 tons
Completed1920 - Uraga Dry Dock Co Ltd, Uraga 
OwnerSword SS Line Inc, New York 
HomeportNew York 
Date of attack4 May 1942Nationality:      American
 
FateSunk by U-162 (Jürgen Wattenberg)
Position7° 10'N, 57° 58'W - Grid EO 4391
Complement29 (16 dead and 13 survivors).
Convoy
RouteTrinidad - Georgetown, British Guiana 
Cargo1550 tons of general cargo 
History

Completed in August 1920

 
Notes on event

At 09.43 hours on 4 May 1942 the unescorted and unarmed Eastern Sword (Master Julius Niels Lars Jensen) was torpedoed by U-162 about twelve miles off the Georgetown Light. Two torpedoes struck in quick succession on the port side at the #4 hold aft of the midship house, causing the ship to settle rapidly by the stern. Two minutes later water reached the decks and she sank on an even keel with 15 feet of her mainmast above water. The explosion had destroyed the radio shack, preventing the sending of a distress message. Three officers and nine crewmen of seven officers and 22 men abandoned ship in one lifeboat and landed the next day at Georgetown. One crewman was picked up from a raft by the fishing boat Ocean Star on 6 May and landed in Georgetown.

 
On boardWe have details of 14 people who were on board


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