Ships hit by U-boats


Thistlegarth

British Steam merchant



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameThistlegarth
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage4,747 tons
Completed1929 - Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd, Sunderland 
OwnerAllan, Black & Co, Sunderland 
HomeportSunderland 
Date of attack15 Oct 1940Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-103 (Viktor Schütze)
Position58.43N, 15W - Grid AL 3639
Complement39 (30 dead and 9 survivors).
ConvoyOB-227 (dispersed)
RouteScapa Flow (13 Oct) - Father Point, New Brunswick 
CargoBallast 
History Completed in September 1929 
Notes on loss

At 19.33 hours on 15 Oct, 1940, the Thistlegarth (Master Donald Plummer, MM), dispersed from convoy OB-227, was hit amidships by one torpedo from U-103 45 miles west-northwest of Rockall. Initially the crew abandoned ship due to the list, but reboarded the vessel when it remained afloat. The U-boat surfaced and opened fire with the deck gun, but had to cease fire after three rounds and crash dive due to return fire. The ship sank in two minutes after being hit by a coup de grâce. The master, 28 crew members and one gunner were lost. Nine crew members were picked up by HMS Heartsease (K 15) (LtCdr E.J.R. North, RNR).

 
CrewlistsWe have listing of 29 people who were on this vessel 

Location of attack on Thistlegarth.

ship sunk.


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