Western Head
British Steam merchant
Name | Western Head | ||
Type: | Steam merchant | ||
Tonnage | 2,599 tons | ||
Completed | 1919 - American Shipbuilding Co, Cleveland OH | ||
Owner | Maritime Navigation Co Ltd, Nassau, Bahamas | ||
Homeport | Nassau | ||
Date of attack | 29 May 1942 | Nationality: British | |
Fate | Sunk by U-107 (Harald Gelhaus) | ||
Position | 19° 57'N, 74° 18'W - Grid DN 7686 | ||
Complement | 30 (24 dead and 6 survivors). | ||
Convoy | |||
Route | Port Antonio - Kingston, Jamaica - Sydney | ||
Cargo | 3710 tons of sugar | ||
History | Laid down as Lake Fessenden, completed in November 1919 as Bartholomew for US Shipping Board (USSB). 1925 renamed Cumberland for Eastern SS Lines, Portsmouth NH. 1939 sold to Britain and renamed Western Head. | ||
Notes on event | At 02.17 hours on 29 May 1942 the unescorted Western Head (Master Thurlow W. Bagnell) was hit by two torpedoes from U-107 and sank immediately in the Windward Passage 50 miles east of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 24 crew members were lost. The master and five crew members were picked up by a US Navy patrol ship and landed at Guantanamo Bay. | ||
On board | We have details of 26 people who were on board. |
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