Ships hit by U-boats


Athelsultan


Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameAthelsultan
Type:Motor tanker
Tonnage8,882 tons
Completed1929 - William Hamilton & Co Ltd, Port Glasgow 
OwnerUnited Molasses Co Ltd, London 
HomeportLiverpool 
Date of attack23 Sep 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-617 (Albrecht Brandi)
Position58.42N, 33.38W - Grid AK 2565
- See location on a map -
Complement61 (51 dead and 10 survivors).
ConvoySC-100
RoutePort Everglades, Florida - Halifax (12 Sep) - Liverpool 
Cargo13.250 tons of molasses and alcohol 
History Completed in November 1929 
Notes on loss

At 00.19 hours on 23 Sep, 1942, the Athelsultan (Master James Dominic Donovan), the ship of the convoy commodore in convoy SC-100, was torpedoed and sunk by U-617 southeast of Cape Farewell. The commodore (N.H. Gale, DSO, RD, RNR), 37 crew members, seven gunners and six naval staff members were lost. The master and two crew members were picked up by HMCS Weyburn (K 173) (T/A/LtCdr T.M.W. Golby, RCNR) and seven crew members by HMS Nasturtium (K 107) (Lt C.D. Smith, DSC, RNR) and landed at Londonderry.

The master James Dominic Donovan was awarded the Lloyds War Medal for bravery at sea.

 


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