Ships hit by U-boats


Anna

Swedish Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of Sjöhistoriska Museet, Stockholm

NameAnna
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage1,345 tons
Completed1924 - Howaldtswerke AG, Kiel 
OwnerRederi-A/B A.Th. Jonasson (Mauritz Jonasson), Råå 
HomeportRåå 
Date of attack3 Jun 1942Nationality:      Swedish
 
FateSunk by U-404 (Otto von Bülow)
Position34° 10'N, 68° 22'W - Grid DC 3267
Complement20 (0 dead and 20 survivors).
Convoy
RouteNorfolk - St. George’s, Bermuda 
Cargo1739 tons of coal and two motor boats as deck cargo 
History Completed in September 1924 
Notes on event

At 05.01 hours on 3 June 1942, U-404 opened fire with the deck gun at the unescorted and unarmed Anna (Master John Svensson) about 210 miles west-northwest of Bermuda, after the ship had been missed with two torpedoes at 03.09 and 04.50 hours. However, the gun crew had to cease fire after seven minutes because they were blinded by a searchlight from the ship, which then tried to communicate with the U-boat by signal lamp. In the moonlight the Germans could see Swedish neutrality markings, but decided to continue the attack because sailing on a zigzag course without any navigational lights set at night clearly indicated that the ship was not neutral. Two crew members were wounded during the attack and the entire crew soon abandoned ship in two lifeboats. At 08.50 hours, the Anna caught fire after three rounds were fired from close distance into one of the holds and she sank by the stern at 09.55 hours. All survivors were picked up after about 13 hours by the Swiss motor merchant Saentis in position 34°08N/68°43W. They were landed in New York on 5 June, after the ship also rescued survivors from the West Notus which had been sunk by the same U-boat on 1 June.

 
On boardWe have details of 6 people who were on board


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