Ships hit by U-boats


Almeda Star

British Steam passenger ship



Photo courtesy of State Library of New South Wales

NameAlmeda Star
Type:Steam passenger ship
Tonnage14,936 tons
Completed1926 - Cammell Laird & Co Ltd, Birkenhead 
OwnerBlue Star Line Ltd, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack17 Jan 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-96 (Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock)
Position58° 16'N, 13° 40'W - Grid AM 1832
Complement360 (360 dead - no survivors)
Convoy
RouteLiverpool - Trinidad - Buenos Aires 
CargoGeneral cargo 
History Completed in December 1926 as Almeda 1929 renamed Almeda Star. 1935 lengthened. 
Notes on event

At 05.08 hours on 17 Jan 1941, U-96 was chasing an unknown steamer that already evaded three G7e torpedoes when the unescorted Almeda Star (Master Harry Cecil Howard, Commodore of the Blue Star Line) was spotted about 35 miles northeast of Rockall. The U-boat then fired a fourth G7e torpedo at the first steamer at 07.10 hours, but it was also evaded and the boat forced to dive by gunfire. At 07.45 hours, U-96 fired one G7e torpedo at the Almeda Star, which stopped after a hit amidships. As the ship did not sink after being hit in the stern and amidships by two coups de grâce at 08.05 and 09.07 hours, the U-boat surfaced to shell the ship. The Germans observed four lifeboats and still saw people on deck before opening fire from 09.32 to 09.48 hours, hitting with about 15 of 28 incendiary shells. Only small fires were started which soon went out, so another torpedo was fired at 09.55 hours. The torpedo hit the forepart and caused her to sink by the bow within three minutes in 58°40N/13°38W.

Seven destroyers were ordered to search the area, but found no survivors. The master, 136 crew members, 29 gunners and 194 passengers were lost. Among the passengers were 21 officers and 121 ratings of the FAA (749, 750 & 752 FAA-Sqdn) en route to RNAS Piarco, Trinidad.

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 319 people who were on board


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