City of Athens
Photo courtesy of the Allen Collection
| Name | City of Athens | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 6.558 tons | ||
| Completed | 1923 - W. Gray & Co Ltd, Sunderland | ||
| Owner | Ellerman Lines Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | Liverpool | ||
| Date of attack | 8 Oct, 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-179 (Ernst Sobe) | ||
| Position | 33.40S, 17.03E - Grid GR 55 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 99 (1 dead and 98 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Glasgow - Takoradi - Capetown - Alexandria | ||
| Cargo | 5646 tons of government stores and general cargo | ||
| History | Completed in July 1923 | ||
| Notes on loss | At 17.31 hours on 8 Oct, 1942, the unescorted City of Athens (Master James Albert Kingsley) was torpedoed and sunk by U-179 60 miles west-northwest of Capetown. One crew member was lost. The master, 80 crew members, nine gunners and eight passengers (Admiralty staff) were picked up by HMS Active (H 14) (Lt.Cdr. M.W. Tomkinson, RN) and landed at Capetown. U-179 was sunk the same day by HMS Active (H 14). | ||
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