Ships hit by U-boats


Erato

British Steam merchant



NameErato
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage1,335 tons
Completed1923 - John Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Aberdeen 
OwnerEllermanĀ“s Wilson Line Ltd, Hull 
HomeportHull 
Date of attack27 Jul 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-126 (Ernst Bauer)
Position43° 10'N, 17° 30'W - Grid CF 3182
Complement42 (9 dead and 33 survivors).
ConvoyOG-69
RouteLiverpool (20 Jul) - Oporto - Gibraltar 
Cargo732 tons of general cargo, 1200 tons of military and naval stores 
History Completed in October 1923 
Notes on event

At 23.51 hours on 27 July 1941, U-126 fired four bow torpedoes and then two stern torpedoes at convoy OG-69 200 miles west of Cape Finisterre. Bauer reported that one ship exploded, another hit on a small ship beyond and hits by the stern torpedoes on two different ships aft and amidships. The last vessel was seen sinking after it broke in two. However, only two ships were reported sunk at this time, the Erato (probably the first ship hit) and the Inga I (probably the ship, which broke in two).

Eight crew members and one gunner from the Erato (Master George D. Smail), the ship of convoy commodore (Capt C.M. Ford, RD, RNR), were lost. The master, the commodore, five naval staff members, 22 crew members and four gunners were picked up by HMS Begonia (K 66) (Lt T.A.R. Muir, RNR) and landed at Gibraltar.

 
On boardWe have details of 11 people who were on board


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