Ships hit by U-boats


Empire Heron

British Steam merchant


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NameEmpire Heron
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage6,023 tons
Completed1920 - Moore Shipbuilding Co, Oakland CA 
OwnerAndrew Weir & Co, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack16 Oct 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-568 (Joachim Preuss)
Position54° 55'N, 27° 15'W - Grid AK 6673
Complement43 (42 dead and 1 survivor).
ConvoySC-48
RouteFreeport, Texas - Sydney, CB (5 Oct) - Manchester 
Cargo7673 tons of sulphur 
History Completed in August 1920 as Mosella for US Shipping Board (USSB) and later laid up as part of the reserve fleet. 1941 transferred to Britain and renamed Empire Heron by Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). 
Notes on event

At 01.14 hours on 16 Oct 1941, U-568 fired a spread of three torpedoes at convoy SC-48 southeast of Cape Farewell and hit Empire Heron (Master James Dick Ross) in station #92 on the starboard side with two torpedoes after 88 seconds, causing the ship to sink fast by the stern. A sole survivor was rescued by HMS Gladiolus (K 34) (LtCdr H.M.C. Sanders, DSO, DSC, RD, RNR) astern of convoy, but he died when the corvette was herself torpedoed and sunk the next night. The master, 33 crew members and nine gunners were lost.

 
On boardWe have details of 43 people who were on board


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