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Allied Ships hit by U-boats


Carsbreck


Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameCarsbreck
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage3.670 tons
Completed1936 - Ayrshire Dockyard Co Ltd, Irvine 
OwnerHoneyman & Co, Glasgow 
HomeportGlasgow 
Date of attack24 Oct, 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-564 (Reinhard Suhren)
Position36.20N, 10.50W - Grid CG 8492
- See location on a map -
Complement42 (24 dead and 18 survivors).
ConvoyHG-75 
RouteAlmeira - Barrow 
Cargo6000 tons of iron ore 
History

Built as Coulbeg, 1938 renamed Carsbreck

At 02.04 hours on 18 Oct, 1940, the Carsbreck in convoy SC-7 was torpedoed by U-38 (Liebe) in position 58°46N/14°11W (grid AM 1539) but reached port.

 
Notes on loss After 06.36 hours on 24 Oct, 1941, U-564 fired five torpedoes at the convoy HG-75 about 300 miles west of Gibraltar. The first three exploded in columns of red fire on different ships after 21, 31 and 41 seconds. The last two were heard to detonate after 3 minutes 14 seconds and 3 minutes 56 seconds. Suhren claimed five ships damaged with 25.000 tons. In fact, three ships, the Carsbreck, Ariosto and Alhama were torpedoed and sunk.

The master, 19 crew members and four gunners from the Carsbreck (Master John Dugald Muir) were lost. 16 crew members and two gunners were picked up by FFL Commandant Duboc, transferred to HMS Ariguani (F 105), which was torpedoed and damaged by U-83 (Kraus) two days later. The vessel was abandoned, but later reboarded and towed to Gibraltar. The survivors from the Carsbreck were picked up by HMS Campion (K 108) (LtCdr A. Johnson), transferred to HMS Vidette (D 48) (LtCdr E.N. Walmsley) and landed at Gibraltar. 


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