Pensilva
British Steam merchant
Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart
| Name | Pensilva | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 4,258 tons | ||
| Completed | 1929 - Burntisland Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Burntisland | ||
| Owner | Chellew Navigation Co Ltd, Cardiff | ||
| Homeport | Swansea | ||
| Date of attack | 19 Nov 1939 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-49 (Kurt von Gossler) | ||
| Position | 46° 51'N, 11° 36'W - Grid BF 4445 | ||
| Complement | ? men (0 dead and ? survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Durban, South Africa - Gibraltar - Rouen - Dunkirk | ||
| Cargo | 6985 tons of maize | ||
| History | Completed in November 1929 as Brynymor for Ambrose, Davies & Mathews Ltd, Swansea. 1931 renamed Pensilva for Chellew Navigation Co Ltd, Cardiff. | ||
| Notes on event | At 12.19 hours on 19 Nov 1939 the unescorted Pensilva (Master Alfred Montague Brockwell) was hit by one torpedo from U-49 northwest of Cape Ortegal and sank slowly by the stern. The ship had been sighted at 09.35 hours and missed with a bow torpedo at 11.15 hours and a stern torpedo at 11.24 hours. The master and the crew were picked up by HMS Echo (H 23) (Cdr S.H.K. Spurgeon, RAN), transferred to HMS Wanderer (D 74) (Cdr R.F. Morice, RN) and landed at Plymouth. | ||
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