Ships hit by U-boats


Delilian

British Steam merchant



NameDelilian
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage6,423 tons
Completed1923 - D. & W. Henderson & Co Ltd, Glasgow 
OwnerDonaldson Brothers Ltd, Glasgow 
HomeportLiverpool 
Date of attack7 Mar 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateDamaged by U-70 (Joachim Matz)
Position60° 28'N, 13° 38'W - Grid AM 1244
Complement68 (0 dead and 68 survivors).
ConvoyOB-293
RouteGlasgow - St. John, New Brunswick 
CargoGeneral cargo 
History Completed in April 1923 for F. Leyland & Co Ltd, Liverpool. 1934 sold to Charente SS Co Ltd (T. & J. Harrison) Liverpool. 1936 transferred to Donaldson Brothers Ltd, Glasgow.

At 01.16 hours on 24 Feb 1943, U-653 (Feiler) fired a stern torpedo at the convoy ON-166 in 46°02N/39°20W. The torpedo missed the intended target but detonated near the Delilian without damaging her.

Post-war:
Broken up at Port Glasgow in February 1954. 
Notes on event

On 7 March 1941, U-70 attacked convoy OB-293 southeast of Iceland, but was lost after a second attack at 07.25 hours. The survivors claimed that they had hit three ships in the first attack at 04.45 hours and another in the second. In fact they had hit Athelbeach and Delilian in station #71 and #61 during the first attack and Mijdrecht during the second.

At about 04.50 hours, the Delilian was hit on the starboard side by one torpedo and her crew abandoned ship. When Mijdrecht approached one of her lifeboats about 90 minutes later, she was herself damaged by a torpedo from the same U-boat. Escorts later brought the crew back to Delilian which turned back and arrived at Kames Bay on 10 March. She was repaired at Glasgow and returned to service in May 1941.

 
On boardWe have details of 2 people who were on board


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