Ships hit by U-boats


Scottish Chief

British Steam tanker



Photo courtesy of Clive Ketley

NameScottish Chief
Type:Steam tanker
Tonnage7,006 tons
Completed1928 - Sir W.G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Co Ltd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 
OwnerTankers Ltd, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack19 Nov 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-177 (Robert Gysae)
Position30° 39'S, 34° 41'E - Grid KP 9780
Complement48 (36 dead and 12 survivors).
ConvoyPA-8 (dispersed)
RouteBandar Mashur (28 Oct) - Bandar Abbas (30 Oct) - Capetown 
Cargo13,000 tons of Admiralty fuel oil 
History Completed in May 1928 
Notes on event

At 23.07 hours on 19 November 1942 the unescorted Scottish Chief (Master Thomas Thorogood), dispersed from convoy PA-8, was hit by two torpedoes from U-177 about 200 miles east-southeast of Durban. The tanker broke up in a big explosion and sank in flames. The master, 32 crew members and three gunners were lost. Five survivors were picked up by HMS Jasmine (K 23) (LtCdr C.D.B. Coventry, RNR) and seven survivors by HMS Genista (K 200) (LtCdr R.M. Pattinson, DSC, RNR) and landed at Durban.

 
On boardWe have details of 39 people who were on board


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