Kirkland
British Steam merchant
Photo courtesy of Paul Johnson Collection
| Name | Kirkland | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 1,361 tons | ||
| Completed | 1934 - Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Dundee | ||
| Owner | James Currie & Co Ltd, Leith | ||
| Homeport | Leith | ||
| Date of attack | 23 Apr 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-565 (Wilhelm Franken) | ||
| Position | 31° 51'N, 26° 37'E - Grid CO 9237 | ||
| Complement | 23 (1 dead and 22 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | TA-36 | ||
| Route | Tobruk (22 Apr) - Alexandria | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Completed in September 1934 | ||
| Notes on event | At 02.55 hours on 23 April 1942, U-565 fired a spread of two torpedoes at convoy TA-36 about 35 miles east-northeast of Sidi Barrani and observed a hit in the stern of a freighter after 4 minutes 5 seconds. The ship developed a list and stopped. At 03.01 hours, another spread of two torpedoes was fired and a detonation was heard after 4 minutes 15 seconds, followed by a heavier explosion. Franken reported two ships sunk, but only the Kirkland (Master James Stuart Brown) was hit and sunk. One crew member was lost. The master, 15 crew members and six gunners were picked up by HMS Falk (FY 789) (Lt H.S. Upperton, RNR) and landed at Mersa Matruh. | ||
| On board | We have details of 2 people who were on board. | ||
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