Ships hit by U-boats


HMS Andania

British Armed Merchant Cruiser



Photo courtesy of the Allen Collection

NameHMS Andania
Type:Armed Merchant Cruiser
Tonnage13,950 tons
Completed1922 - R. & W. Hawthorn, Leslie & Co Ltd, Hebburn-on-Tyne 
OwnerThe Admiralty 
HomeportLiverpool 
Date of attack16 Jun 1940Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by UA (Hans Cohausz)
Position62° 36'N, 15° 09'W - Grid AE 8287
Complement347 (0 dead and 347 survivors).
Convoy
RouteClyde (7 Jun) - patrol area near Iceland 
Cargo 
History Completed in May 1922 as steam passenger ship Andania for the Cunard White Star Ltd, Liverpool. In September 1939 requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to the armed merchant cruiser HMS Andania until 28 October. 
Notes on event

At 00.29 hours on 16 June 1940, HMS Andania (Capt D.K. Bain (Rtd), RN) was hit aft by one of two torpedoes from UA about 230 miles west-northwest of the Faroe Islands. The ship sank slowly by the stern and the crew was taken off by the Icelandic trawler Skallagrímur, so only two men were injured. The trawler continued its course to Hull, but HMS Forester (H 74) (LtCdr E.B. Tancock, DSC, RN) took the men off about 36 hours after the rescue and took them to Scapa Flow on 17 June.

UA had spotted HMS Andania the first time in heavy rain at 15.24 hours on 13 June 1940. The U-boat began to follow the ship, but lost her several times due to bad visibility, darkness and the fast zigzagging patrol course she was sailing. At 12.17 hours on 14 June, a spread of three torpedoes was fired which missed and was apparently not observed aboard the armed merchant cruiser, which was lost out of sight after the attack. After 24 hours, the ship was again sighted and successful attacked at 00.29 hours on 16 June. UA fired a G7a coup de grâce after eight minutes, which was a dud. The torpedo track was probably seen because HMS Andania opened fire with all guns, but could not locate the attacker in the darkness. Cohausz gave up the attack after two coups de grâce fired at 01.18 and 01.50 hours missed probably due to the high seas.

 
On boardWe have details of 7 people who were on board


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