Ships hit by U-boats


Sunoil

American Motor tanker



Photo courtesy of Sun Refining & Marketing Co

NameSunoil
Type:Motor tanker
Tonnage9,005 tons
Completed1927 - Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co, Chester PA 
OwnerSun Oil Company, Philadelphia PA 
HomeportPhiladelphia 
Date of attack5 Apr 1943Nationality:      American
 
FateSunk by U-530 (Kurt Lange)
Position58° 16'N, 34° 14'W - Grid AK 2521
Complement69 (69 dead - no survivors)
ConvoyHX-231 (straggler)
RouteNew York (27 Mar) - Halifax - Old Kilpatrick - Bowling 
Cargo102,000 barrels of Navy fuel oil 
History Completed in November 1927 
Notes on event

At 11.45 hours on 5 April 1943, U-563 fired three torpedoes at the zigzagging Sunoil (Master Sedolf Berg Heggelund), a straggler from position #45 in convoy HX-231 due to engine troubles. One torpedo hit, but the armed guards forced the U-boat to submerge and her distress signal brought HMS Vidette (D 48) (Lt R. Hart, DSC, RN) to the scene which prevented another attack.

About 15.00 hours, U-530 spotted a tanker and later also a destroyer and fired at 22.11 hours a spread of three torpedoes at the Sunoil, which was hit by one torpedo and stopped. The tanker sank quickly after being hit by two coups de grâce. The destroyer found no trace of her until dusk, abandoned the search and returned to convoy. All ten officers, 33 crewmen and 26 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns) were lost.

 
On boardWe have details of 68 people who were on board

Attack entries for Sunoil

DateU-boatCommanderLoss typeTonsNat.
5 Apr 1943U-563Kptlt. Götz von HartmannDamaged9,005  
5 Apr 1943U-530Kptlt. Kurt LangeSunk9,005  


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