Ships hit by U-boats


HMS Spearfish (N 69)

British Submarine


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


NameHMS Spearfish (N 69)
Type:Submarine (S-class 2nd Group)
Tonnage670 tons
Completed1936 - Cammell Laird & Co Ltd, Birkenhead 
OwnerThe Admiralty 
Homeport 
Date of attack1 Aug 1940Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-34 (Wilhelm Rollmann)
Position58° 07'N, 1° 32'E - Grid AN 4281
Complement42 officers and men (41 dead and 1 survivor).
Convoy
RouteRosyth (31 Jul) - North Sea 
Cargo 
History  
Notes on event

At 19.04 hours on 1 Aug 1940, HMS Spearfish (N 69) (LtCdr J.H. Forbes, DSO, RN) was hit in the forepart by one torpedo from U-34 and sank immediately about 180 miles west-southwest of Stavanger. The U-boat was returning from its last patrol as a combat boat and only had one torpedo remaining, when they first spotted a periscope at 18.17 hours and dived. At 18.48 hours, the conning tower of the British submarine became visible and Rollmann fired the last torpedo over the bow. One minute after the hit, the Germans surfaced and approached the sinking position where they picked up the sole survivor Able Seaman William V. Pester (on his first patrol) and took him as prisoner to Wilhelmshaven. The commander, four officers and 36 ratings were lost.

 
On boardWe have details of 42 people who were on board


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

Media links


U-Boat Attack Logs

Daniel Morgan and Bruce Taylor


amazon.co.uk
(£ 38.25)


Submarines versus U-boats

Jones, Geoffrey

Return to Allied Ships hit by U-boats



As an Amazon Associate uboat.net earns a commission from qualifying purchases.