Ships hit by U-boats


Euphorbia

British Steam merchant



NameEuphorbia
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage3,380 tons
Completed1924 - Sunderland Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Sunderland 
OwnerJoseph Robinson & Sons, North Shields 
HomeportNorth Shields 
Date of attack14 Dec 1940Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-100 (Joachim Schepke)
Position56° 51'N, 23° 12'W - Grid AL 0165
Complement34 (34 dead - no survivors)
ConvoyOB-256 (dispersed)
RouteSwansea - Milford Haven - Lynn, Massachusetts 
Cargo3837 tons of coal 
History Completed in August 1924 
Notes on event

At 19.55 hours on 14 December 1940 the unescorted Euphorbia (Master Thomas Hilton), dispersed on 12 December in 59°04N/15°30W from convoy OB-256, was hit on starboard side in the foreship by one G7e torpedo from U-100 about 310 miles west of Rockall. The U-boat had spotted the freighter about four hours earlier in bad visibility and missed with one G7a torpedo at 19.48 hours. Schepke observed how the ship caught fire and stopped, so he waited nearby but the flames went out and the Euphorbia remained afloat despite a high sea and heavy swell. The ship sank quickly after being hit on port side aft of amidships by a coup de grâce at 20.28 hours. The Germans then questioned the survivors in the lifeboats before leaving the area. However, the boats were never found: the master, 32 crew members and one gunner were lost.

 
On boardWe have details of 34 people who were on board


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