Leto
Dutch Steam merchant
Photo courtesy of the Allen Collection
| Name | Leto | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 4,712 tons | ||
| Completed | 1929 - NV Rotterdamsche Droogdok Mij, Rotterdam | ||
| Owner | Mij. Zeevaart NV (Hudig & Veder), Rotterdam | ||
| Homeport | Rotterdam | ||
| Date of attack | 12 May 1942 | Nationality:  Dutch | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-553 (Karl Thurmann) | ||
| Position | 49° 32'N, 65° 19'W - Grid BB 1476 | ||
| Complement | 53 (12 dead and 41 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Montreal (10 May) - Quebec - Halifax - UK | ||
| Cargo | Grain | ||
| History | Completed in January 1930 | ||
| Notes on event | At 08.28 hours on 12 May 1942 the unescorted Leto (Master E.H. van der Veen) was hit by one torpedo from U-553 about eight miles north of Cape de la Madeleine. The torpedo struck in the engine room, wrecking the engine, killing the first engineer and ten crewmen and causing the ship to sink in a short time. In Quebec, the ship had taken four maritime officers as passengers on board. They were from the Dutch motor tanker Oscilla, which had been sunk by the Italian submarine Morosini (Fraternale) on 16 March 1942. One of them, the first mate, was rescued from a piece of wood but died later of hypothermia. | ||
| On board | We have details of 43 people who were on board. | ||
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