Ships hit by U-boats


Peru

British Motor merchant



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NamePeru
Type:Motor merchant
Tonnage6,961 tons
Completed1916 - Burmeister & Wain´s Maskin & Skibsbyggeri A/S, Copenhagen 
OwnerUnited Baltic Co, London 
HomeportSouthampton 
Date of attack13 Nov 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-126 (Ernst Bauer)
Position1° 30'N, 13° 20'W - Grid FE 3414
Complement50 (0 dead and 50 survivors).
Convoy
RouteCalcutta - Capetown - Freetown - UK 
Cargo3001 tons of pig iron, 4184 tons of groundnuts and 2082 tons of general cargo 
History Completed in August 1916 as Peru for A/S Det Østasiatiske Kompagni A/S, Copenhagen. In April 1940 seized by Britain and transferred to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). 
Notes on event

At 00.42 hours on 13 Nov 1941 the unescorted Peru (Master C.V. Frederiksen) was hit amidships by one torpedo from U-126 southwest of Cape Palmas and sank at 01.45 hours after being hit in the engine room by a coup de grâce. The Germans questioned the survivors before leaving the area. The master, 42 crew members and seven gunners were picked up by the Uniwaleco and landed at Freetown on 16 November.

 
On boardWe have details of 30 people who were on board


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