Ships hit by U-boats


Seattle Spirit

American Steam merchant


We don't have a picture of this vessel at this time.


NameSeattle Spirit
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage5,627 tons
Completed1919 - J.F. Duthie & Co, Seattle WA 
OwnerSeas Shipping Co Inc, New York 
HomeportSeattle 
Date of attack18 Jun 1942Nationality:      American
 
FateSunk by U-124 (Johann Mohr)
Position50° 24'N, 42° 37'W - Grid BC 3157
Complement55 (4 dead and 51 survivors).
ConvoyONS-102
RouteMurmansk - Reykjavik (29 May) - New York 
CargoBallast 
History Built for the US Maritime Commission, Washington DC and later placed in the reserve fleet. 
Notes on event

At 06.21 and 06.22 hours on 18 June 1942, U-124 fired two spreads of two torpedoes at three ships in convoy ONS-102 in rough seas and observed two hits on the first ship and heard further detonations. Mohr claimed two ships sunk and another damaged, however the only ship hit was Seattle Spirit in station #112.

One torpedo struck the Seattle Spirit (Master Edward W. Myers) on the port side amidships in the engine room and quickly flooded the ship, causing a boiler explosion and killing one officer and two crewmen on watch below. The most of the nine officers, 28 crewmen, eleven armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, four .50cal and four .30cal guns) and seven passengers (Canadians) on board abandoned ship in three lifeboats. One sailor died of shock and exposure after jumping into the water.
The 51 survivors were picked up by HMCS Agassiz (K 129), but 45 of them were later transferred to the British rescue ship Perth and landed at Halifax on 24 June, while the remaining men on the corvette were landed at St. Johns. The Seattle Spirit was shelled by the corvette after an officer, who had boarded the ship about four hours after the attack, had determined she could not be salvaged and the vessel sank at 20.30 hours.

The master Edward W. Myers already experienced another sinking when his previous ship, the Robin Moor had been sunk by U-69 (Metzler) on 21 May 1941.

 
On boardWe have details of 16 people who were on board


If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.

Return to Allied Ships hit by U-boats