Ships hit by U-boats


Empire Portia

British Steam merchant


We don't have a picture of this vessel at this time.


NameEmpire Portia
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage7,058 tons
Completed1943 - Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Walker-on-Tyne 
OwnerCommon Brothers Ltd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 
HomeportNewcastle 
Date of attack29 Jun 1944Nationality:      British
 
FateA total loss by unknown
Position50° 33'N, 0° 35'W - Grid BF 3246
Complement47 (5 dead and 42 survivors).
ConvoyFTM-22
RouteNormandy beaches - Portsmouth 
CargoBallast 
History Completed in January 1943 for Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) 
Notes on event

About 16.00 hours on 29 June 1944 the Empire Portia (Master Thomas Kirby Suttie) in convoy FTM-22 was badly damaged by an explosion off Selsey Bill. The vessel was taken in tow by HMS LST-416, but the tow parted and she grounded with a broken back on Peel Bank near Ryde, Isle of Wight. The forward section was towed to Falmouth, the aft section to Briton Ferry, South Wales and subsequently broken up. The master and 41 crew members were saved, but five crew members were lost.

 
Revisions October 2015 by Rainer Kolbicz:
The discovery of the wreck of U-988 showed that it could not have been responsible for the damage of Empire Portia. It is presently not known if the ship was torpedoed or mined. 
On boardWe have details of 7 people who were on board


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