Ships hit by U-boats


Edward B. Dudley

American Steam merchant


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


NameEdward B. Dudley
Type:Steam merchant (Liberty)
Tonnage7,177 tons
Completed1943 - North Carolina Shipbuilding Co, Wilmington NC 
OwnerBulk Carriers Corp, New York 
HomeportWilmington 
Date of attack11 Apr 1943Nationality:      American
 
FateSunk by U-615 (Ralph Kapitzky)
Position53° 00'N, 39° 00'W - Grid AK 5415
Complement69 (69 dead - no survivors)
ConvoyHX-232 (straggler)
RouteNew York (4 Apr) - UK 
Cargo4000 tons of munitions, food and cotton 
History Completed February 1943 
Notes on event

On 4 April 1943 the Edward B. Dudley (Master Gibson Douglas Hillary) left New York in convoy HX-232. Later the ship straggled from convoy perhaps due to bent propeller blades and was never heard from again. None of the eight officers, 34 men and 27 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in and nine 20mm guns) on board were ever found.

At 14.30 hours on 10 April, U-615 fired a spread of four torpedoes on a single ship, but only one torpedo hit which failed to explode. She followed the vessel, which was now steaming a zigzag course and the next day at 04.46 hours fired two torpedoes which hit amidships and stopped the vessel. 20 minutes later another torpedo was fired from 1000 meters that struck at the stern and ignited the after magazine, but the ship still remained afloat. At 05.16 hours a coup de grĂ¢ce was fired from 800 meters that struck under the bridge. The cargo of munition was ignited and the ship disintegrated. Debris slightly damaged the conning tower of the U-boat and wounded Kapitzky, forcing U-615 to abort her patrol and return to port. The launching of many lifeboats was observed before the ship exploded. The victim must have been the Edward B. Dudley.

 
On boardWe have details of 66 people who were on board


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