Ships hit by U-boats


Ocean Crusader

British Steam merchant


We don't have a picture of this vessel at this time.


NameOcean Crusader
Type:Steam merchant (Ocean (British Liberty))
Tonnage7,178 tons
Completed1942 - Todd-Bath Iron Shipbuilding Corp, Portland ME 
OwnerDodd, Thomson & Co Ltd, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack26 Nov 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-262 (Rudolf Heinz Franke)
Position50° 30'N, 45° 30'W - Grid BC 2217
Complement50 (50 dead - no survivors)
ConvoyHX-216 (straggler)
RoutePortland, Maine - Panama - New York (19 Nov) - Avonmouth 
Cargo8891 tons of general cargo 
History Completed in November 1942 for Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) 
Notes on event

At 16.57 hours on 26 November 1942 the unescorted Ocean Crusader (Master Ellis Wynne Parry) on her maiden voyage was hit on the port side fore and amidships by two of three G7e torpedoes fired by U-262 about 330 miles northeast of St. John’s, Newfoundland. The ship was a straggler from station #114 in convoy HX-216 owing to stress of heavy weather in 50°N/47°W during the night of 25 November and was apparently heading for St. John’s when spotted and attacked by the U-boat in dense fog. The Germans observed how the ship stopped after being hit, fired two flares and slowly settled by the bow. Heavy seas with a high swell prevented the use of the deck gun, so they tried to sink the ship by firing their last torpedo, but it missed. U-262 left the area after half an hour when Ocean Crusader was seen to be down by the head with the rudder and screw out of the water. Her radio operator had managed to send a distress signal, but no survivors were ever found. The master, 44 crew members and five gunners were lost.

 
On boardWe have details of 50 people who were on board


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