Ships hit by U-boats


Meriwether Lewis

American Steam merchant


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NameMeriwether Lewis
Type:Steam merchant (Liberty)
Tonnage7,176 tons
Completed1942 - Oregon Shipbuilding Co, Portland OR 
OwnerAmerican Mail Line Ltd, Seattle WA 
HomeportPortland 
Date of attack2 Mar 1943Nationality:      American
 
FateSunk by U-634 (Eberhard Dahlhaus)
Position62° 10'N, 28° 25'W - Grid AD 8264
Complement75 (75 dead - no survivors)
ConvoyHX-227 (straggler)
RouteNew York - UK - North Russia 
CargoAmmunition and tires 
History Completed January 1942 
Notes on event

At 06.43 hours on 2 March 1943 U-634 fired a spread of four torpedoes at the unescorted Meriwether Lewis (Master John Edward Beal), a straggler from convoy HX-227, and hit her with one torpedo after eight minutes. The ship sank bow first following two coups de grĂ¢ce at 07.52 and 09.05 hours, after a heavy detonation in the forward part of the ship when the cargo of ammunition blew up. Earlier the ship had been attacked and missed by U-759 (Friedrich), which then had troubles with the diesel engines and led the other U-boat to her target.

The US Coast Guard cutter USCGC Ingham (WPG 35) searched the area for two days and only located a trail of automobile tires that stretched for 30 miles. All eight officers, 36 crewmen and 31 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns) were lost.

 
On boardWe have details of 75 people who were on board


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