Ships hit by U-boats


Holystone

British Steam merchant



Photo from City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 447-2303

NameHolystone
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage5,462 tons
Completed1927 - Short Bros Ltd, Pallion, Sunderland 
OwnerCommon Brothers Ltd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 
HomeportNewcastle 
Date of attack15 Feb 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-123 (Karl-Heinz Moehle)
Position55° 39'N, 25° 15'W - Grid AL 4195
Complement40 (40 dead - no survivors)
ConvoyOB-284 (dispersed)
RouteHull - Oban - Halifax 
CargoBallast 
History Completed in December 1927 
Notes on event

At 00.38 hours on 15 February 1941 the unescorted Holystone (Master John Stewart Bain), dispersed from convoy OB-284 on 13 February, was hit on port side aft by one torpedo from U-123 about 500 miles south-southwest of Iceland. The U-boat had unsuccessfully attacked the Penolver from the same dispersed convoy on 14 February and was chasing this ship when spotting the Holystone. Moehle decided to go after the bigger freighter, but then missed her with five single fired torpedoes between 22.15 hours on 14 February and 00.12 hours on 15 February. The sixth torpedo eventually struck the ship which disappeared in a very heavy explosion, presumably caused by the detonation of the magazine for the stern gun. The master, 35 crew members and four gunners were lost.

 
Revisions April 2015 by Rainer Kolbicz:
Earlier this attack of U-123 was attributed with the sinking of Alnmoor, but newer research shows that the ship sunk was Holystone. The Alnmoor was sunk by the Italian submarine Bianchi on 14 February 1941. 
On boardWe have details of 40 people who were on board


If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.

Return to Allied Ships hit by U-boats