Ships hit by U-boats


Gretavale

British Steam merchant



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameGretavale
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage4,586 tons
Completed1928 - Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow 
OwnerAndrew Crawford & Co Ltd, Glasgow 
HomeportGlasgow 
Date of attack3 Nov 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-202 (Hans-Heinz Linder)
Position51° 21'N, 51° 45'W - Grid AJ 7849
Complement44 (38 dead and 6 survivors).
ConvoySC-52
RouteBaltimore - Sydney (29 Oct) - Loch Ewe 
Cargo6700 tons of steel and 17 lorries 
History  
Notes on event

At 04.54, 04.58 and 05.05 hours on 3 Nov 1941, U-202 attacked convoy SC-52 northeast of Notre Dame Bay, Newfoundland and observed hits on two ships and heard a third. At 08.44 hours, a capsized wreck was sunk by coup de grĂ¢ce, possibly that of one of the vessels struck during the first attack. However, the Flynderborg and Gretavale were sunk by these attacks.

The master, 31 crew members and six gunners from the Gretavale (Master Frank S. Passmore) were lost. Six crew members were picked up by the HMCS Windflower (K 155) (Lt John Price) and landed at St.Johns.

 
On boardWe have details of 38 people who were on board


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