Harperley
Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart
| Name | Harperley | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 4,586 tons | ||
| Completed | 1930 - W. Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool | ||
| Owner | J. & C. Harrison Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 5 May 1943 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-264 (Hartwig Looks) | ||
| Position | 55.00N, 42.58W - Grid AJ 6514 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 49 (10 dead and 39 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | ONS-5 | ||
| Route | Newport, Mon. - Milford Haven (20 Apr) - Buenos Aires | ||
| Cargo | 6005 tons of coal and bags of mail | ||
| History | | ||
| Notes on loss | At 03.02 and 03.03 hours on 5 May 1943, U-264 fired two spread of two torpedoes at the convoy ONS-5 about 500 miles south of Cape Farewell and observed the sinking of two ships with two hits each. The ships sunk were the West Maximus and Harperley. At 03.05 hours, Looks fired a single torpedo and observed a hit on another ship, but this is not confirmed by Allied sources. The Harperley (Master Joseph Ernest Turgoose) later sank in 55°03N/42°56W. Nine crew members and one gunner were lost. The master, 32 crew members and six gunners were picked up by HMS Northern Spray (FY 129) (Lt F.A.J. Downer) and landed at St.Johns. | ||
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