British Freedom
British Motor tanker
Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart
| Name | British Freedom | ||
| Type: | Motor tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 6,985 tons | ||
| Completed | 1928 - Palmers Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Hebburn-on-Tyne | ||
| Owner | British Tanker Co Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 14 Jan 1945 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-1232 (Kurt Dobratz) | ||
| Position | 44° 28'N, 63° 28'W - Grid BB 7527 | ||
| Complement | 57 (1 dead and 56 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | BX-141 | ||
| Route | New York - UK | ||
| Cargo | 9723 tons of US Navy special fuel oil | ||
| History | Completed in June 1928 At 15.07 hours on 27 June 1942 the British Freedom (Master Francis Main) in convoy KS-514 was torpedoed and damaged by U-701 (Degen) in position 34°45N/75°22W. No casualties among the crew of 55. The ship had been en route in ballast from Scapa Flow to Trinidad via New York and Key West. The tanker reached Hampton Roads the next day and after temporary repairs at Philadelphia continued to New York, was repaired and returned to service in September 1942. | ||
| Notes on event | At 10.35 hours on 14 Jan 1945, U-1232 attacked convoy BX-141 east of Halifax, sank the British Freedom and badly damaged the Martin Van Buren six minutes later. The U-boat then sank the Athelviking and missed HMCS Ettrick (K 254). Dobratz reported the sinking of four ships totalling 30.400 grt. One crew member from the British Freedom (Master Frank Llewellyn Morris) was lost. The master, 46 crew members and nine gunners were picked up by HMCS Gaspe (J 94) (Lt A.J. Burke, RCNR) and landed at Halifax. | ||
| On board | We have details of 62 people who were on board. | ||
Attack entries for British Freedom
| Date | U-boat | Commander | Loss type | Tons | Nat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Jun 1942 | U-701 | Kptlt. Horst Degen | Damaged | 6,985 | |
| 14 Jan 1945 | U-1232 | Kpt. Kurt Dobratz | Sunk | 6,985 | |
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