Ships hit by U-boats


Rodney Star

British Steam merchant



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameRodney Star
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage11,803 tons
Completed1927 - Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow 
OwnerBlue Star Line Ltd, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack16 May 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-105 (Georg Schewe)
Position5° 03'N, 19° 02'W - Grid ET 7133
Complement83 (0 dead and 83 survivors).
Convoy
RouteFray Bentos, Uruguay - Santos - Freetown - Glasgow 
Cargo7000 tons of refrigerated and general cargo 
History Built as Rodneystar 1929 renamed Rodney Star 
Notes on event

At 05.48 hours on 16 May 1941 the unescorted Rodney Star (Master Samuel John Clement Phillips) was hit in the stern by one of two torpedoes from U-105 about 420 miles west-southwest of Freetown. The ship was hit in the bow and amidships by two coups de grâce at 06.20 and 07.46 hours, but remained afloat. The U-boat surfaced and fired 91 high explosive rounds and 22 incendiary rounds from the deck gun into the waterline. Shortly before the ship sank by the stern in 05°08N/19°15W at 09.30 hours, a shell exploded in the barrel which was tore apart and wounded six men of the gun crew.
The survivors were picked up after six days by HMS Boreas (H 77) (LtCdr D.H. Maitland-Makgill Crichton) and Batna and landed at Takoradi on 23 May.

 
On boardWe have details of 2 people who were on board


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