Ships hit by U-boats


El Oso

British Steam tanker



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameEl Oso
Type:Steam tanker
Tonnage7,267 tons
Completed1921 - Sir W.G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Co Ltd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 
OwnerC.T. Bowring & Co Ltd, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack11 Jan 1940Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-30 (Fritz-Julius Lemp)
Position53° 32'N, 3° 25'W - Grid AM 9324
Complement36 (4 dead and 32 survivors).
ConvoyHX-14B
RouteLobitos, Angola - Halifax - Ellesmere Port 
Cargo9,238 tons of crude oil and 511 tons of casinghead gasoline 
History Completed in September 1921 
Notes on event

At 11.00 hours on 11 January 1940 the El Oso (Master Frank Herbert Simpson) in convoy HX-14B, struck a mine laid on 6 January by U-30 and sank six miles 280° from the Bar Lightship, Liverpool. Three crew members were lost. The master and 32 crew members were picked up by HMS Walker (D 27) (LtCdr A.A. Tait, RN) and landed at Liverpool. Eight injured survivors were taken to a hospital where one of them died of wounds.

 
On boardWe have details of 5 people who were on board


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