Ships hit by U-boats


Kyma

Greek Steam merchant



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameKyma
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage3,994 tons
Completed1912 - Short Bros Ltd, Pallion, Sunderland 
OwnerNicolas Sitinas & Co, Port Said 
HomeportAndros 
Date of attack24 May 1940Nationality:      Greek
 
FateSunk by U-37 (Victor Oehrn)
Position48° 30'N, 9° 30'W - Grid BF 1983
Complement30 (7 dead and 23 survivors).
Convoy
RouteRosario - St. Vincent (13 May) - Avonmouth 
Cargo6000 tons of maize and 90 tons of trucks 
History Completed in July 1912 as British Hesleyside for Charlton Steam Shipping Co Ltd (Charlton, McAllum & Co Ltd), Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 1933 sold to Greece and renamed Kyma
Notes on event

At 02.48 hours on 24 May 1940 the unescorted and neutral Kyma was hit by a torpedo from U-37 and sank about 175 miles south of Cape Clear. The U-boat attacked the ship without warning despite visible neutrality markings because she was heading for a British port within the blockade area. The survivors abandoned ship in a lifeboat, were spotted by an aircraft from St. Eval in the afternoon and reported to HMS Enchantress (L 56) (Cdr A.K. Scott-Moncrieff, RN), which left convoy OA-153GF to pick them up in 49°08N/06°46W at 22.00 hours and then rejoined convoy.

 


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