Ships hit by U-boats


Baron Newlands

British Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of the Allen Collection

NameBaron Newlands
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage3,386 tons
Completed1928 - Ayrshire Dockyard Co Ltd, Irvine 
OwnerH. Hogarth & Sons Ltd, Glasgow 
HomeportArdrossan 
Date of attack16 Mar 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-68 (Karl-Friedrich Merten)
Position4° 35'N, 8° 32'W - Grid EU 8143
Complement38 (18 dead and 20 survivors).
Convoy
RouteTakoradi - Freetown 
Cargo4800 tons of manganese ore 
History Completed in April 1928 
Notes on event

At 23.17 hours on 16 March 1942 the unescorted Baron Newlands (Master William Lindsay Ewing) was hit underneath the bridge by one torpedo from U-68 and sank immediately by the bow six miles south of Cape Palmas, Liberia. The U-boat had spotted the ship 15 hours earlier and missed with one G7a torpedo at 11.35 hours. They then almost lost the ship in a thunderstorm and only the bright flashes allowed to keep contact. The Germans observed that the crew did not manage to launch a lifeboat, so they refrained from questioning the survivors. 14 crew members and four gunners were lost. The master, 17 crew members and two gunners landed at Grande Sesters and Piccaniani Cess, near Cape Palmas.

 
On boardWe have details of 21 people who were on board


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