Ships hit by U-boats


Hatarana

British Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of State Library of New South Wales

NameHatarana
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage7,522 tons
Completed1917 - Kawasaki Dockyard Co Ltd, Kobe 
OwnerBritish India Steam Navigation Co Ltd, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack18 Aug 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-214 (Günther Reeder)
Position41° 07'N, 20° 32'W - Grid CF 2569
Complement108 (0 dead and 108 survivors).
ConvoySL-118
RouteCalcutta - Karachi - Capetown - Freetown (4 Aug) - Glasgow 
Cargo8300 tons of general cargo 
History Completed in August 1917 as War Sailor for The Shipping Controller, managed by Furness, Withy & Co Ltd, Liverpool. 1919 renamed Hatarana for British India Steam Navigation Co Ltd, London. 
Notes on event

At 18.52 hours on 18 Aug 1942, U-214 fired four aimed single torpedoes at convoy SL-118 from between the columns, heard detonations after 2 minutes 27 seconds, 3 minutes 10 seconds, 4 minutes 31 seconds and 4 minutes 37 seconds and heard three ships breaking up. Reeder claimed the sinking of four ships totalling 20,000 grt. In fact, one torpedo damaged HMS Cheshire (F 18), another sank the Hatarana and two torpedoes sank the Balingkar.

The Hatarana (Master Percival Arthur Clifton James) was scuttled by gunfire by HMS Pentstemon (K 61) (LtCdr J. Byron, DSC, RNR), which also picked up 20 survivors and landed them at Londonderry. The remaining 88 survivors of the 98 crew members and ten gunners were picked up by the Corabella.

 
On boardWe have details of 20 people who were on board


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