Ships hit by U-boats


Peleus

Greek Steam merchant



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NamePeleus
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage4,695 tons
Completed1928 - W. Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool 
OwnerNereus Steam Navigation Co Ltd (E.E. Hadjilias), Athens 
HomeportSyra 
Date of attack13 Mar 1944Nationality:      Greek
 
FateSunk by U-852 (Heinz-Wilhelm Eck)
Position2° 00'S, 10° 00'W - Grid FF 19
Complement39 (36 dead and 3 survivors).
Convoy
RouteAlgiers - Freetown (8 Mar) - Buenos Aires 
CargoBallast 
History Completed in March 1928 as Egglestone for W. Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool. 1928 sold to Greece and renamed Peleus
Notes on event

At 19.40 hours on 13 March 1944 the unescorted Peleus (Master Minas Mavris) was hit by two torpedoes from U-852 and sank rapidly about 500 miles north of Ascension Island. The U-boat tried to destroy all evidences of the sinking by shooting at debris and rafts from the ship. During this action some survivors were killed and only four men were alive when the U-boat left the area. One of them later died, the remaining three survivors were picked up by the Portuguese steam merchant Alexandre Silva on 20 April and taken to Lobito, Angola. The master, 31 crew members and four British gunners were lost.

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 39 people who were on board


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Media links


Survivors

Bennett, G. H. and Bennett, R.


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