British Gunner
Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart
| Name | British Gunner | ||
| Type: | Steam tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 6.894 tons | ||
| Completed | 1922 - Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend, Sunderland | ||
| Owner | British Tanker Co Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 24 Feb, 1941 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-97 (Udo Heilmann) | ||
| Position | 61.09N, 12.04W - Grid AE 8893 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 44 (3 dead and 41 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | OB-289 | ||
| Route | Swansea - Aruba | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | | ||
| Notes on loss | At 06.24 hours on 24 Feb, 1941, the British Gunner (Master James William Kemp) in convoy OB-289 was torpedoed and damaged by U-97 273 miles northwest of Cape Wrath. Four hours later, the British corvette HMS Petunia (K 79) (LtCdr G.V. Legassisk) ordered the crew to abandon ship in 61°16N/12°20W, even though the master reported that his ship can be towed to port. Three crew members were lost. The master, 38 crew members and two gunners were picked up by the corvette and landed at Stornoway, Hebrides. | ||
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