Belgian Fighter
The Belgian Fighter under her former name Ala
| Name | Belgian Fighter | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 5.403 tons | ||
| Completed | 1921 - Merchant Shipbuilding Corp, Harriman PA | ||
| Owner | Belgian Government | ||
| Homeport | Antwerp | ||
| Date of attack | 9 Oct, 1942 | Nationality:  Belgian | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-68 (Karl-Friedrich Merten) | ||
| Position | 35.00S, 18.30E - Grid GR 5965 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 54 (5 dead and 49 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Abu Zenima - Aden - Capetown - Baltimore | ||
| Cargo | General cargo | ||
| History | Built as American Ala for the US Shipping Board. 1931 sold to American Diamond Lines Inc. 1935 sold to Black Diamond Lines Inc, New York and renamed Black Condor. 1941 given to Britain, renamed Empire Lapwing for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). 1941 sold to Belgian Government and renamed Belgian Fighter. | ||
| Notes on loss | At 04.54 hours on 9 Oct, 1942, the unescorted Belgian Fighter (Master A. Costermans) was torpedoed and sunk by U-68 80 miles south-southeast of Capetown. Five crew members were lost and two were wounded. The master, 40 crew members and six gunners were rescued. Two men were picked up by Ocean Justice and survived also the second sinking when this ship was sunk by U-505 (Zschech) on 7 November. | ||
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