Ships hit by U-boats


HMS Crispin

British Ocean boarding vessel



Crispin before the conversion to an OBV. Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameHMS Crispin
Type:Ocean boarding vessel
Tonnage5,051 tons
Completed1935 - Cammell Laird & Co Ltd, Birkenhead 
OwnerThe Admiralty 
HomeportLiverpool 
Date of attack3 Feb 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-107 (Günter Hessler)
Position56° 38'N, 20° 05'W - Grid AL 0249
Complement141 (20 dead and 121 survivors).
ConvoyOB-280 (dispersed)
RouteLiverpool (31 Jan) - North Atlantic - Liverpool 
Cargo 
History Completed in March 1935 as steam merchant Crispin of Booth Steamship Co Ltd (Booth Line), Liverpool. In August 1940 requistioned by the Admiralty and converted to the ocean boarding vessel HMS Crispin, armed with two 6in guns and some light AA-guns. 
Notes on event

At 23.33 hours on 3 Feb 1941, HMS Crispin (A/Cdr B. Moloney, DSO, DSC, RNR) was hit in the engine room by one torpedo from U-107 north-northwest of Rockall. The ship was just detached from the dispersed convoy OB-280 together with HMS Arbutus (K 86) (LtCdr H. Lloyd-Williams, RNVR), the British armed yacht HMS Philante and the British rescue ship Copeland (Master J. McKellar, OBE) to join convoy SC-20 on 4 February. HMS Crispin was abandoned and foundered the following day in 56°52N/20°22W. The commander, five officers and 14 ratings were lost. Eight survivors were picked up by the rescue ship and the remaining survivors by HMS Harvester (H 19) (LtCdr M. Thornton, DSC, RN) and landed at Liverpool.

 
On boardWe have details of 22 people who were on board


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