Ships hit by U-boats


San Fernando

British Steam tanker



Photo courtesy of State Library of New South Wales

NameSan Fernando
Type:Steam tanker
Tonnage13,056 tons
Completed1919 - Sir W.G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Co Ltd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 
OwnerEagle Oil & Shipping Co Ltd, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack21 Jun 1940Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-47 (Günther Prien)
Position50° 20'N, 10° 24'W - Grid BF 1193
Complement49 (0 dead and 49 survivors).
ConvoyHX-49
RouteCuraçao - Liverpool 
Cargo13.500 tons of crude oil and 4200 tons of fuel oil 
History Completed in October 1919 
Notes on event

At 20.07 hours on 21 June 1940, U-47 fired a torpedo at a tanker in the middle of convoy HX-49 about 50 miles south-southwest of Cape Clear and hit the San Fernando. The U-boat then fired two torpedoes at 20.08 and 20.10 hours but could not observe the results because they dived to 100 metres to avoid a steamer that was on collision course with the U-boat. Prien assumed that he had hit two 7000 grt steamers, but this is not confirmed in Allied reports.

The San Fernando (Master Arthur Richard Buckley) was taken in tow by tugs but sank the next day. The master and 48 crew members were picked up by HMS Fowey (L 15) (Cdr H.B. Ellison, RN) and HMS Sandwich (L 12) (Cdr M.J. Yeatman, RN) and landed at Plymouth.

 
On boardWe have details of 1 people who were on board


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