Ships hit by U-boats


Essex Lance

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NameEssex Lance
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage6,625 tons
Completed1918 - Sir W.G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Co Ltd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 
OwnerMeldrum & Swinson Ltd, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack15 Oct 1943Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-426 (Christian Reich)
Position57.53N, 28.00W - Grid AK 3739
- See location on a map -
Complement52 (0 dead and 52 survivors).
ConvoyONS-20 (straggler)
RouteSwansea - Milford Haven (8 Oct) - Halifax 
Cargo4000 tons of anthracite 
History Completed in October 1918 as War Courage for The Shipping Controller, managed by Lowden, Connell & Co, Liverpool. 1919 renamed Glensanda for Glen Line Ltd, London. 1928 renamed Essex Lance for Meldrum & Swinson Ltd, London.

At 12.00 hours on 16 Sep, 1942, U-165 (Hoffmann) attacked the convoy SQ-36 in 49°03N/67°08W, sank the Joannis and damaged the Essex Lance and Pan York. The Essex Lance had been en route in ballast from London to Montreal. One crew member was lost. On 22 September, the ship arrived at Quebec in tow, was repaired and returned to service in May 1943. 
Notes on loss

At 22.48 hours on 15 Oct, 1943, the Essex Lance (Master Arthur Henry Dean), a straggler from convoy ONS-20, was hit by one of three torpedoes from U-426 and sank in flames southeast of Cape Farewell. Earlier U-842 (Heller) reported that they had sighted the Essex Lance, but were unable to attack the ship.
The master, 43 crew members and eight gunners were picked up by the British rescue ship Accrington and landed at Halifax on 26 October.

 


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