Ships hit by U-boats


Egyptian

British Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of the Allen Collection

NameEgyptian
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage2,868 tons
Completed1920 - W. Harkess & Son Ltd, Middlesbrough 
OwnerEllerman & Papayanni Lines Ltd, Liverpool 
HomeportLiverpool 
Date of attack7 Mar 1943Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-230 (Paul Siegmann)
Position56° 25'N, 37° 38'W - Grid AK 4224
Complement49 (46 dead and 3 survivors).
ConvoySC-121
RouteLagos - New York (23 Feb) - Loch Ewe 
Cargo6689 tons of West African produce, including oil seed, palm oil and tin ore 
History Completed in June 1920 
Notes on event

At 02.10 hours on 7 March 1943, U-230 attacked convoy SC-121 south-southeast of Cape Farewell and torpedoed the Egyptian (Master Dominic Vincent Murphy). Siegmann thought that his victim sank and attacked convoy again at 09.25 hours. He claimed the sinking of another ship with 5000 tons in the former position of the Egyptian, but it seems that both attacks were carried out on the same ship.
The Empire Impala was ordered to pick up the survivors, dropped behind convoy and was sunk with all hands by U-591 (Zetzsche) at 09.06 hours.

The master, 36 crew members and nine gunners from Egyptian were lost. Three crew members were picked up by HMCS Rosthern (K 169) (Lt R.J.G. Johnson, RCNVR) and landed at Londonderry.

 
On boardWe have details of 44 people who were on board


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