Kirnwood
Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart
| Name | Kirnwood | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 3,829 tons | ||
| Completed | 1928 - J. Readhead & Sons Ltd, South Shields | ||
| Owner | Constantine Shipping Co Ltd, Middlesbrough | ||
| Homeport | Middlesbrough | ||
| Date of attack | 10 Dec 1941 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-130 (Ernst Kals) | ||
| Position | 56.57N, 16.35W - Grid AL 3962 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 45 (12 dead and 33 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | SC-57 | ||
| Route | Albany, New York - Sydney - Ipswich | ||
| Cargo | 5500 tons of grain | ||
| History | | ||
| Notes on loss | At 23.54 hours on 10 Dec, 1941, U-130 fired a spread of four torpedoes at the convoy SC-57 west of Rockall and observed two hits on one ship, the Star of Luxor, which sank in flames. At 23.57 hours, a spread of two torpedoes was then fired, both torpedoes seemingly detonating on one ship, but in fact Kurdistan and Kirnwood were hit. The master and eleven crew members from the Kirnwood (Master George Albert Norton) were lost. 29 crew members and four gunners were picked up by the British rescue ship Dewsbury (Master Arthur James Elvin Snowden OBE), transferred to the HMS Kingcup (K 33) (LtCdr R.A.D. Cambridge) and landed at Londonderry. | ||
If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.