Empire Fusilier
British Steam merchant
Name | Empire Fusilier | ||
Type: | Steam merchant | ||
Tonnage | 5,408 tons | ||
Completed | 1921 - SocietĂ Anonima Santieri Cerusa, Genoa-Voltri | ||
Owner | Watts, Watts & Co Ltd, London | ||
Homeport | Liverpool | ||
Date of attack | 9 Feb 1942 | Nationality: British | |
Fate | Sunk by U-85 (Eberhard Greger) | ||
Position | 44° 45'N, 47° 25'W - Grid BC 8179 | ||
Complement | 47 (9 dead and 38 survivors). | ||
Convoy | ON-60 (dispersed) | ||
Route | Tyne - Tampa, Florida | ||
Cargo | Ballast | ||
History | Completed in June 1921 as Mincio for Pietro Ravano fu Marco, Genoa. On 10 June 1940 seized by Britain at Liverpool and renamed Empire Fusilier by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). | ||
Notes on event | At 20.20 hours on 9 February 1942 the unescorted Empire Fusilier (Master William Reid), dispersed from convoy ON-60, was hit by one of three torpedoes from U-85 after a chase of 7 hours southeast of St. John’s, Newfoundland. The ship immediately settled by the stern and sank after a boiler explosion. Six crew members and three gunners were lost. The master, 34 crew members and three gunners were picked up by HMCS Barrie (K 138) (SkrLt G.N. Downey, RCNR) and landed at Halifax. | ||
On board | We have details of 12 people who were on board. |
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