Ships hit by U-boats


Alhama

British Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of Norsk Maritimt Museum

NameAlhama
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage1,352 tons
Completed1938 - Nylands Verksted, Oslo 
OwnerMossgiel SS Co Ltd (John Bruce & Co), Glasgow 
HomeportGlasgow 
Date of attack24 Oct 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-564 (Reinhard Suhren)
Position35° 42'N, 10° 58'W - Grid CG 8492
Complement33 (0 dead and 33 survivors).
ConvoyHG-75
RouteSevilla - Valencia - Belfast 
Cargo180 tons of tartaric acid, 1730 tons of onions, wines, cork and 27 tons of general cargo 
History Completed in May 1938 
Notes on event

After 06.36 hours on 24 October 1941 U-564 fired five torpedoes at convoy HG-75 about 300 miles west of Gibraltar. The first three exploded in columns of red fire on different ships after 21, 31 and 41 seconds. The last two were heard to detonate after 3 minutes 14 seconds and 3 minutes 56 seconds. Suhren claimed five ships damaged with 25,000 grt. In fact, three ships, the Carsbreck, Ariosto and Alhama were torpedoed and sunk.

The master, 25 crew members and seven gunners from the Alhama (Master Alexander Cameron) were picked up by FFL Commandant Duboc and transferred to HMS Lamerton (L 88) (LtCdr H.C. Simms, RN). 18 survivors were later transferred to HMS Hesperus (H 57) (LtCdr A.A. Tait, RN) and landed at Liverpool, the remaining 15 survivors were transferred to the HMS Rochester (U 50) (Cdr C.B. Allen, RN) and landed at Londonderry on 3 November.

 
On boardWe have details of 1 people who were on board


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