Ships hit by U-boats


HMS Welshman (M 84)


NameHMS Welshman (M 84)
Type:Cruiser-minelayer (Abdiel)
Tonnage2,650 tons
Completed1941 - R. & W. Hawthorn, Leslie & Co Ltd, Hebburn-on-Tyne 
OwnerThe Admiralty 
Homeport 
Date of attack1 Feb 1943Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-617 (Albrecht Brandi)
Position32.12N, 24.52E - Grid CO 6776
- See location on a map -
Complement? men (155 dead and ? survivors).
Convoy
RouteMalta - Alexandria 
Cargo 
History HMS Welshman (M 84) made about eight supply runs to Malta in 1942. 
Notes on loss

At 17.45 hours on 1 Feb, 1943, U-617 fired a spread of four torpedoes at a vessel identified as cruiser of the Dido class and observed two hits and a boiler explosion. At 17.55 hours, the ship capsized and sank by the stern after two hours. The victim was HMS Welshman (M 84) (Capt W.H.D. Friedberger, DSO, RN) which sank 35 miles east-northeast off Tobruk, Libya. Nine officers and 139 ratings were lost, also an unknown number of military passengers (among them two civilians and four aircrew members that had been badly burnt in a plane crash on Malta). Only a few survivors were rescued by HMS Tetcott (L 99) (LtCdr R.H. Rycroft, RN) and HMS Belvoir (L 32) (A/LtCdr J.F.D. Bush, DSC, RN).

 


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