Ships hit by U-boats


Montreal City

British Steam merchant



Montreal City at Canons Marsh Wharf in Bristol during June 1933. Photo courtesy of Robin Craig Collection.

NameMontreal City
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage3,066 tons
Completed1920 - North of Ireland Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Londonderry 
OwnerCharles Hill & Sons, Bristol 
HomeportBristol 
Date of attack21 Dec 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-591 (Hans-Jürgen Zetzsche)
Position50° 23'N, 38° 00'W - Grid BD 1167
Complement40 (40 dead - no survivors)
ConvoyON-152 (straggler)
RouteBristol - Milford Haven - New York 
Cargo1800 tons of general cargo, including china clay 
History Completed in March 1920 as Pinar del Rio for Santa Clara SS Co Ltd (T. Royden & Sons), Liverpool. 1933 renamed Montreal City for Charles Hill & Sons, Bristol. 
Notes on event

At 03.56 hours on 21 Dec 1942 the unescorted Montreal City (Master Edward Roylands Wolferstan Chanter), a straggler from station #11 in convoy ON-152, was hit aft by one stern torpedo from U-591 about 600 miles east-northeast of St. John’s, Newfoundland. The U-boat had spotted the ship in bad weather about 15 minutes earlier and missed her with a spread of three torpedoes at 03.50 hours. The crew was observed to abandon ship in three lifeboats after an emergency message was sent and received by other ships of convoy. At 04.09 hours, a coup de grâce was fired because the vessel only settled slowly by the stern. The torpedo struck the Montreal City amidships and caused her to sink by the stern within two minutes, leaving behind a debris field containing several hundred empty gasoline canisters. The Germans then questioned the occupants in one of the lifeboats before leaving the area. However, the survivors were never seen again: the master, 32 crew members and seven gunners were lost.

 
On boardWe have details of 40 people who were on board


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