Ships hit by U-boats


Orfor

British Steam merchant


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NameOrfor
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage6,578 tons
Completed1921 - William Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland 
OwnerHenry M. Thomson, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack14 Dec 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-105 (Jürgen Nissen)
Position16° 00'N, 50° 00'W - Grid EF 1952
Complement61 (22 dead and 39 survivors).
Convoy
RouteCalcutta - Capetown (16 Nov) - St.Thomas, Virgin Islands - Kingston - Ciudad Trujillo 
Cargo7170 tons of gunnies (jute fibre) 
History Built as Romsdalshorn 1937 renamed Orfor 
Notes on event

At 04.14 hours on 14 Dec 1942 the unescorted Orfor (Master Charles William Matthew Crone) was hit under the bridge by one torpedo from U-105 northeast of Barbados and was abandoned by the crew. The U-boat questioned the survivors and waited until the ship sank at 09.40 hours before leaving the area. The master, 18 crew members and three gunners were lost. 21 survivors landed on Desirade Island, Guadaloupe on 26 December after sailing in a lifeboat about 600 miles in eleven days. The chief officer and 14 survivors were picked up by the British armed yacht HMS Black Bear (FY 046) (Cdr H.B. Pilcher) and landed at Trinidad on 24 December.

 
On boardWe have details of 24 people who were on board


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