Lochavon
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| Name | Lochavon | ||
| Type: | Motor merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 9.205 tons | ||
| Completed | 1938 - Harland & Wolff Ltd, Govan, Glasgow | ||
| Owner | Royal Mail Lines Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 14 Oct, 1939 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-45 (Alexander Gelhaar) | ||
| Position | 50.25N, 13.10W - Grid BE 3366 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | ? men (0 dead and ? survivors). | ||
| Convoy | KJF-3 | ||
| Route | Vancouver BC - Panama - Liverpool - Glasgow - Southampton | ||
| Cargo | Passengers and general cargo, including 31000 cases of dried fruit | ||
| History | | ||
| Notes on loss | In the morning on 14 Oct, 1939, U-45 attacked the unescorted convoy KJF-3 about 230 miles southwest of Fastnet and reported the sinking of three big steamers. In fact two ships, Lochavon and Bretagne were sunk and the British steam merchant Karamea (10350 grt) was missed, because a torpedo detonated prematurely. The U-boat was lost the same day. The master, crew and passengers from Lochavon (Master Charles Edward Ratkins, RNR) were picked up by HMS Ilex (D 61) (LtCdr P.L. Saumarez, RN) and landed at Plymouth. | ||
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