Alcinous

Photo courtesy of Alex Duncan
| Name | Alcinous | ||
| Type: | Motor merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 6,189 tons | ||
| Completed | 1926 - Scott´s Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Greenock | ||
| Owner | Nederlandsche Stoomvaart Mij ´Oceaan´, Amsterdam | ||
| Homeport | Amsterdam | ||
| Date of attack | 16 Aug 1940 | Nationality: | |
| Fate | Damaged by U-46 (Engelbert Endrass) | ||
| Position | 57.16N, 17.02W - Grid AL 0312 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | ? men (0 dead and ? survivors). | ||
| Convoy | OB-197 | ||
| Route | Swansea - Liverpool (12 Aug) - Capetown - Java | ||
| Cargo | General cargo | ||
| History | Completed in February 1926 Post-war: 1950 sold to Britain and renamed Phemius for Ocean SS Co (Alfred Holt & Co), Liverpool. Broken up in Hong Kong in July 1957. | ||
| Notes on loss | At 13.02 hours on 16 Aug, 1940, U-46 fired three torpedoes on three ships (two passenger ships and one freighter) which partially overlapped in convoy OB-197 about 150 miles southwest of Rockall and observed a hit on the freighter, which was clearly damaged, as the bow was deeper in the water. The Alcinous was hit on the port side by one torpedo and caught fire, which could be extinguished after long work. HMS Rochester (L 50) (Cdr G.F. Renwick, RN) supported the damaged ship, which was later towed to Gourock by a British tug. Endrass could not identify his victim, but U-30 (Lemp) heard the SSS-signals from the Alcinous. | ||
If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.