Erato
| Name | Erato | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 1.335 tons | ||
| Completed | 1923 - John Duthie Torry Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Aberdeen | ||
| Owner | Ellermanīs Wilson Line Ltd, Hull | ||
| Homeport | Hull | ||
| Date of attack | 27 Jul, 1941 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-126 (Ernst Bauer) | ||
| Position | 43.10N, 17.30W - Grid CF 3182 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 36 (9 dead and 27 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | OG-69 | ||
| Route | Liverpool (20 Jul) - Oporto - Gibraltar | ||
| Cargo | 732 tons of general cargo, 1200 tons of military and naval stores | ||
| History | Completed in October 1923 | ||
| Notes on loss | At 23.51 hours on 27 Jul, 1941, U-126 fired four bow torpedoes and then two stern torpedoes at the convoy OG-69 200 miles west of Cape Finisterre. Bauer reported that one ship exploded, another hit on a small ship beyond and hits by the stern torpedoes on two different ships aft and amidships. The last vessel was seen sinking after it broke in two. However, only two ships were reported sunk at this time, the Erato (probably the first ship hit) and the Inga I (probably the ship, which broke in two). The master, 22 crew members and four gunners from the Erato (Master George D. Smail) were picked up by HMS Begonia (K 66) (Lt T.A.R. Muir, RNR) and landed at Gibraltar. Eight crew members and one gunner were lost. | ||
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