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Allied Ships hit by U-boats


Hobbema


NameHobbema
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage5.507 tons
Completed1918 - Skinner & Eddy Corp, Seattle WA 
OwnerNV Gebr. Van Udenīs Scheepvaart en Agentur Mij, Rotterdam 
HomeportThe Hague 
Date of attack4 Nov, 1942Nationality:      Dutch
 
FateSunk by U-132 (Ernst Vogelsang)
Position55.30N, 40.00W - Grid AJ 63
- See location on a map -
Complement44 (28 dead and 16 survivors).
ConvoySC-107 
RouteNewport News - New York - Belfast Lough 
Cargo7000 tons of general cargo and ammunition 
History Built as American West Lianga for US Shipping Board, Seattle; 1918/19 used in the Naval Overseas Transportation Service of the US Navy; 1929 renamed Helen Whittier for Los Angeles SS Co, Los Angeles; 1935 sold to Matson SS Co, Los Angeles; 1938 renamed Kalani for Matson Navigation Co, San Francisco.
1940 given to Britain and renamed Empire Cheetah by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and transferred to Sir R. Ropner & Co.
On 18 May 1942, the vessel was given to the Dutch government and renamed Hobbema by the Netherlands Shipping & Trading Committee, The Hague. 
Notes on loss At 00.15 hours on 4 Nov, 1942, U-132 (Vogelsang) attacked the convoy SC-107 about 500 miles southeast of Cape Farewell, sank the Hobbema and Empire Lynx and damaged the Hatimura. The U-boat was lost after this attack when her last victim, the Hatimura, exploded.

The Hobbema (Master A. van Duin) was hit by one torpedo on the starboard side in the engine room. The engine stopped, lights fell out and the ship immediately began to founder. 16 survivors launched the port lifeboats and some rafts and were later picked up by the American tugs Uncas and Pessacus. The master and 27 men of her complement of 44 men (including seven British gunners) were lost. 


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