British Premier
Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart
| Name | British Premier | ||
| Type: | Steam tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 5,872 tons | ||
| Completed | 1922 - Palmers Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Jarrow | ||
| Owner | British Tanker Co Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 24 Dec 1940 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-65 (Hans-Gerrit von Stockhausen) | ||
| Position | 06.20N, 13.20W - Grid ET 2661 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 45 (32 dead and 13 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | SLS-60 (straggler) | ||
| Route | Abadan - Freetown (22 Dec) - Swansea | ||
| Cargo | 8000 tons of crude oil | ||
| History | Completed in December 1922 | ||
| Notes on loss | At 16.41 hours on 24 Dec, 1940, the British Premier (Master Francis Dalziel), a straggler from convoy SLS-60, was hit by two G7a torpedoes from U-65 and sank 200 miles southwest of Freetown. The master, 30 crew members and one gunner were lost. Nine crew members were picked up on 3 Jan, 1941, by HMS Hawkins (I 86) (Capt H.P.K. Oram, RN) and landed at Freetown. On 3 Feb, 1941, four surviors were picked up after 41 days in an open boat (25 days without food) by HMS Faulknor (H 62) (Capt A.F. de Salis, RN) off the west coast of Africa and landed at Freetown. | ||
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