Ships hit by U-boats


Bretagne

French Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of Rich Turnwald Collection

NameBretagne
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage10,108 tons
Completed1922 - Barclay, Curle & Co Ltd, Whiteinch, Glasgow 
OwnerCompagnie Générale Transatlantique, Paris 
HomeportLe Havre 
Date of attack14 Oct 1939Nationality:      French
 
FateSunk by U-45 (Alexander Gelhaar)
Position50° 20'N, 12° 45'W - Grid BE 3366
Complement? men (7 dead and ? survivors).
ConvoyKJF-3
RouteCristobal - Kingston, Jamaica - Le Havre 
CargoGeneral cargo 
History Completed in September 1922 as Dutch Flandria for Koninklijke Hollandsche Lloyd, Amsterdam. 1936 sold to France and renamed Bretagne for Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, Le Havre. 
Notes on event

In the morning on 14 October 1939, U-45 attacked the unescorted convoy KJF-3 about 230 miles southwest of Fastnet and reported the sinking of three big steamers. In fact, two ships, Lochavon and Bretagne were sunk and the British steam merchant Karamea (10350 grt) was missed, because a torpedo detonated prematurely. The U-boat was lost later the same day.

The survivors from Bretagne were picked up by HMS Imogen (D 44) (Cdr E.B.K. Stevens, RN) and HMS Ilex (D 61) (LtCdr P.L. Saumarez, RN).

 


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