Ships hit by U-boats


HMS Ellesmere (FY 204)

British A/S trawler



NameHMS Ellesmere (FY 204)
Type:A/S trawler (Lake)
Tonnage580 tons
Completed1939 - Smith´s Dock Co Ltd, South Bank, Middlesbrough 
OwnerThe Admiralty 
Homeport 
Date of attack24 Feb 1945Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-1203 (Sigurd Seeger)
Position49° 04'N, 5° 31'W - Grid BF 2811
Complement37 (37 dead - no survivors)
ConvoyAppFlt Q
RoutePlymouth (24 Feb) - Gibraltar 
Cargo 
History Launched in June 1939 as Norwegian whaler Kos XXIV for Anders Jahre, Sandefjord. On 26 August 1939 purchased by the Admiralty and completed as A/S trawler HMS Ellesmere (FY 204) in October 1939. 
Notes on event

At 23.40 hours on 24 February 1945 HMS Ellesmere (FY 204) (Lt T.H. Lloyd-Jones, RNVR) was hit by a Gnat torpedo from U-1203 about 60 miles northwest of Brest. The armed trawler was escorting Appian Flight Q, a convoy of 21 landing craft en route to Malta, off its port bow when the vessel disappeared in a violent explosion. HMS Bideford (U 43) (A/LtCdr A.H. Pierce, OBE, RNR), the only other escort of convoy and HMS LCI(L)-299 (Lt C.T. Doyle, RNVR) immediately investigated the sinking position but no survivors were found, only splintered rafts and an upturned whaler were seen.

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 37 people who were on board


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