Orminster

Orminister under her former name Clan Keith. Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart
| Name | Orminster | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 5,712 tons | ||
| Completed | 1914 - Bartram & Sons Ltd, South Dock, Sunderland | ||
| Owner | South American Saint Line, Cardiff | ||
| Homeport | Cardiff | ||
| Date of attack | 25 Aug 1944 | Nationality: | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-480 (Hans-Joachim Förster) | ||
| Position | 50.09N, 00.44W - Grid BF 3278 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 63 (4 dead and 59 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | FTM-74 (straggler) | ||
| Route | Juno Beach, Normandy - Portsmouth | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Built as Etonian, 1918 renamed Clan Keith, 1919 renamed Hilarius, 1924 renamed Clan Keith, 1937 renamed Orminster for Thomas Eeles & Co, London. 1940 sold to South American Saint Line, Cardiff. | ||
| Notes on loss | At 14.43 hours on 25 Aug, 1944, the Orminster (Master Harold Gittins), a straggler from convoy FTM-74, was torpedoed and sunk by U-480 about 35 miles northwest of Cap d´Antifer. One crew member and three gunners were lost. The master, 43 crew members, 14 gunners and one army storekeeper were picked up by HMS Pennywort (K 111) (Lt W.P. Hart) and HMS Damsay (T 208) and landed at Portsmouth. | ||
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