Ships hit by U-boats


P.L.M. 22

British Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of Roland Forcet Collection

NameP.L.M. 22
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage5,646 tons
Completed1921 - Sir Raylton Dixon & Co Ltd, Middlesbrough 
OwnerE.R. Management Co Ltd, Cardiff 
HomeportNewcastle 
Date of attack27 Jun 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-123 (Reinhard Hardegen)
Position25° 43'N, 22° 47'W - Grid DT 2626
Complement44 (33 dead and 11 survivors).
ConvoySL-78
RoutePepel - Freetown (18 Jun) - Middlesbrough 
Cargo7600 tons of iron ore 
History Completed in April 1921 as French P.L.M. 22 for Société Maritime de Transports et d'Affrètements, Rouen. 1940 taken over by Britain and transferred to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). 
Notes on event

At 23.57, 23.58 and 24.00 hours on 27 June 1941, U-123 fired one torpedo each at three ships in convoy SL-78 from between the columns west-southwest of the Canary Islands. The first torpedo sank P.L.M. 22, the second the Oberon and the third missed the intended target, but was thought to have hit another ship in convoy.

The master, 31 crew members and one gunner from P.L.M. 22 (Master Yves Le Bitter, MM and Chevalier du Mérite Maritime) were lost. Nine crew members, one gunner and one passenger were picked up by HMS Armeria (K 187) (A/T/LtCdr H.N. Russell, DSC, RNR), transferred to HMS Asphodel (K 56) (LtCdr K.W. Stewart, RN) and landed at Freetown on 4 July.

 
On boardWe have details of 33 people who were on board


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