Sunoil
American Motor tanker
Photo courtesy of Sun Refining & Marketing Co
| Name | Sunoil | ||
| Type: | Motor tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 9,005 tons | ||
| Completed | 1927 - Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co, Chester PA | ||
| Owner | Sun Oil Company, Philadelphia PA | ||
| Homeport | Philadelphia | ||
| Date of attack | 5 Apr 1943 | Nationality:  American | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-530 (Kurt Lange) | ||
| Position | 58° 16'N, 34° 14'W - Grid AK 2521 | ||
| Complement | 69 (69 dead - no survivors) | ||
| Convoy | HX-231 (straggler) | ||
| Route | New York (27 Mar) - Halifax - Old Kilpatrick - Bowling | ||
| Cargo | 102,000 barrels of Navy fuel oil | ||
| History | Completed in November 1927 | ||
| Notes on event | At 11.45 hours on 5 April 1943, U-563 fired three torpedoes at the zigzagging Sunoil (Master Sedolf Berg Heggelund), a straggler from position #45 in convoy HX-231 due to engine troubles. One torpedo hit, but the armed guards forced the U-boat to submerge and her distress signal brought HMS Vidette (D 48) (Lt R. Hart, DSC, RN) to the scene which prevented another attack. About 15.00 hours, U-530 spotted a tanker and later also a destroyer and fired at 22.11 hours a spread of three torpedoes at the Sunoil, which was hit by one torpedo and stopped. The tanker sank quickly after being hit by two coups de grâce. The destroyer found no trace of her until dusk, abandoned the search and returned to convoy. All ten officers, 33 crewmen and 26 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns) were lost. | ||
| On board | We have details of 68 people who were on board. | ||
Attack entries for Sunoil
| Date | U-boat | Commander | Loss type | Tons | Nat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Apr 1943 | U-563 | Kptlt. Götz von Hartmann | Damaged | 9,005 | |
| 5 Apr 1943 | U-530 | Kptlt. Kurt Lange | Sunk | 9,005 | |
If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.