Ships hit by U-boats


Nerissa

British Steam passenger ship



Photo courtesy of Memorial University of Newfoundland

NameNerissa
Type:Steam passenger ship
Tonnage5,583 tons
Completed1926 - William Hamilton & Co Ltd, Port Glasgow 
OwnerBermuda & West Indies SS Co, Hamilton, Bermuda 
HomeportHamilton 
Date of attack1 May 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-552 (Erich Topp)
Position55° 57'N, 10° 08'W - Grid AM 5162
Complement300 (209 dead and 91 survivors).
ConvoyHX-121 (straggler)
RouteSt. John’s - Halifax - Liverpool 
Cargo175 passengers and 3049 tons of general cargo, including aluminium, motor trucks and shells 
History Completed in June 1926 
Notes on event

At 00.27 hours on 1 May 1941 the unescorted Nerissa (Master Gilbert Radcliffe Watson), a straggler from convoy HX-121, was torpedoed and sunk by U-552 southeast of Rockall. The master, 82 crew members, two gunners and 124 passengers were lost. 30 crew members, five gunners, 53 passengers and three stowaways were picked up by HMS Veteran (D 72) (Cdr W.T. Couchman, OBE, RN), transferred to HMS Kingcup (K 33) (LtCdr R.A.D. Cambridge, DSC, RNR) and landed at Londonderry.

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 300 people who were on board


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