Ships hit by U-boats


Athelprince

British Motor tanker



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameAthelprince
Type:Motor tanker
Tonnage8,782 tons
Completed1926 - Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill, Middlesbrough 
OwnerUnited Molasses Co Ltd, London 
HomeportLiverpool 
Date of attack11 Jun 1940Nationality:      British
 
FateDamaged by U-46 (Engelbert Endrass)
Position43° 42'N, 13° 20'W - Grid BF 7716
Complement59 (0 dead and 59 survivors).
ConvoyOG-33F (dispersed)
RouteLondon - Cienfuegos, Cuba 
CargoBallast 
History Completed in February 1926

At 06.27 hours on 29 Mar 1941, U-48 (Schultze) attacked the convoy HX-115 and claimed one tanker sunk. The xB-Dienst reported a hit on the Athelprince, but the ship was in fact not hit.

In June 1942, the Athelprince picked up 23 survivors from the Hardwicke Grange, which had been sunk by U-129 (Witte) on 12 June and landed them at Nuevitas, Cuba.

Post-war:
Broken up at Faslane in July 1954. 
Notes on event

At 23.04 hours on 11 June 1940 the Athelprince in a group of three detached ships from convoy OG-33F was hit aft by one G7a torpedo from U-46 west of Cape Finisterre. The tanker continued after the hit, but its back broke after being hit amidships by one G7e torpedo at 23.30 hours. Endrass did not wait for the ship to sink. The Athelprince was salvaged, repaired and returned to service in January 1941.

 


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