Ships hit by U-boats


Caprella

British Motor tanker



NameCaprella
Type:Motor tanker
Tonnage8,230 tons
Completed1931 - R. & W. Hawthorn, Leslie & Co Ltd, Hebburn-on-Tyne 
OwnerAnglo-Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack20 Oct 1940Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-100 (Joachim Schepke)
Position56° 37'N, 17° 15'W - Grid AL 0381
Complement53 (1 dead and 52 survivors).
ConvoyHX-79
RouteCuraçao - Mersey 
Cargo11.300 tons of fuel oil 
History Completed in July 1931 
Notes on event

At 00.15 hours on 20 Oct 1940, U-100 fired two torpedoes at two tankers in convoy HX-79 from within the columns about 150 miles southwest of Rockall and hit Caprella and Sitala, which both caught fire after being torpedoed and sank later.

The burning Caprella (Master Percy Prior) was quickly abandoned by the crew. One crew member was lost. The master and 51 crew members were picked up by HMS Lady Elsa (FY 124) (Lt J.G. Rankin, RNR) and landed at Belfast.
On 22 October, the drifting wreck of the Caprella was located in 56°28N/17°53W vertically submerged, showing only the bow 15 metres above water.

 
On boardWe have details of 2 people who were on board


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