Ships hit by U-boats


Capira

Panamanian Steam merchant


We don't have a picture of this vessel at this time.


NameCapira
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage5,625 tons
Completed1920 - J.F. Duthie & Co, Seattle WA 
OwnerUS Lines Inc, New York 
HomeportPanama 
Date of attack31 Aug 1942Nationality:      Panamanian
 
FateSunk by U-609 (Klaus Rudloff)
Position57° 13'N, 33° 40'W - Grid AK 2916
Complement54 (5 dead and 49 survivors).
ConvoySC-97
RouteNew York (16 Aug) - Halifax - Glasgow 
CargoGeneral cargo, including trucks, tractors, steel mats, bulldozers and 250 bags of US mail 
History Completed in March 1920 as West Campgaw for US Shipping Board (USSB) and later laid up as part of the reserve fleet. 1941 renamed Capira for US Lines Inc and registered in Panama. 
Notes on event

At 10.04 and 10.05 hours on 31 Aug 1942, U-609 fired torpedoes at convoy SC-97 and reported two ships sunk. The victims were the Capira and the Bronxville.

The Capira (Master Ejnar Jensen) in station #63 was struck by one torpedo on the starboard side at #4 hold near the after end of the engine room, which was immediately flooded. The ship began to settle by the stern and sank after 20 minutes. The most of the 41 crew members and 13 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in and eight machine guns) abandoned ship in three lifeboats and two rafts, but one boat capsized. At 10.15 hours, 33 survivors were picked up by the British rescue ship Perth. The remaining 16 survivors were picked up from wreckage and a raft by HMCS Drumheller (K 167) (Cdr G.H. Griffiths, RCN). On 6 September, all men were landed at Gourock, Scotland.

 
On boardWe have details of 21 people who were on board


If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.

Return to Allied Ships hit by U-boats