Muncaster Castle
British Motor merchant
Name | Muncaster Castle | ||
Type: | Motor merchant | ||
Tonnage | 5,853 tons | ||
Completed | 1928 - Cammell Laird & Co Ltd, Birkenhead | ||
Owner | James Chambers & Co Ltd, Liverpool | ||
Homeport | Liverpool | ||
Date of attack | 30 Mar 1942 | Nationality: British | |
Fate | Sunk by U-68 (Karl-Friedrich Merten) | ||
Position | 2° 02'N, 12° 02'W - Grid FE 3366 | ||
Complement | 353 (24 dead and 329 survivors). | ||
Convoy | ST-18 (dispersed) | ||
Route | Glasgow - Freetown (28 Mar) - Capetown - Colombo | ||
Cargo | 265 passengers and 3000 tons of government stores and trucks | ||
History | Completed in May 1928 | ||
Notes on event | At 22.43 hours on 30 March 1942 the Muncaster Castle (Master Harold William Harper) was hit by a two torpedo spread from U-68 south-southwest of Monrovia. The U-boat earlier observed how the ship was dispersed from convoy ST-18 at 13.35 hours and followed the heavy zigzagging ship, running at 13 knots, until she stopped zigzagging in the darkness. The vessel settled immediately after the hits but did not sink and Merten had to use his last torpedo as a coup de grĂ¢ce at 23.16 hours. After the ship sank by the bow, the Germans observed more than ten lifeboats and questioned the survivors in one of them before leaving the area on home course. The master, Harold William Harper, was awarded the Lloyds War Medal for bravery at sea. | ||
On board | We have details of 120 people who were on board. |
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