Fort Buckingham
British Steam merchant
We don't have a picture of this vessel at this time.
| Name | Fort Buckingham | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant (North Sands) | ||
| Tonnage | 7,122 tons | ||
| Completed | 1943 - Burrard Dry Dock Co, North Vancouver BC | ||
| Owner | Joseph Constantine SS Line Ltd, Middlesbrough | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 20 Jan 1944 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-188 (Siegfried Lüdden) | ||
| Position | 8° 19'N, 66° 40'E - Grid LB 2616 | ||
| Complement | 89 (38 dead and 51 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Bombay - Durban - Buenos Aires | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Completed in February 1943 for US War Shipping Administration (WSA), lend-leased on bareboat charter to British Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). | ||
| Notes on event | At 20.39 hours on 20 Jan 1944 the unescorted Fort Buckingham (Master Murdo Macleod DSC) was hit by two torpedoes from U-188 northwest of the Maldive Islands and sank within 10 minutes. The master, 30 crew members and seven gunners were lost. Six survivors were picked up by the British motor merchant Moorby and landed at Fremantle on 29 January. 28 crew members and nine gunners were picked up on 5 February by the Norwegian motor tanker Ora, transferred to HMS Redoubt (H 41) (LtCdr N.E.G. Roper, DSO, RN) and landed at Bombay on 9 February. Eight survivors were rescued by the Norwegian motor tanker Kongsdal and landed at Melbourne on 22 February. | ||
| On board | We have details of 45 people who were on board. | ||
If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.