Ships hit by U-boats


Bayard

Norwegian Motor merchant



NameBayard
Type:Motor merchant
Tonnage2,160 tons
Completed1936 - Akers Mekaniske Verksted A/S, Oslo 
OwnerFred Olsen & Co, Oslo 
HomeportOslo 
Date of attack6 Jul 1942Nationality:      Norwegian
 
FateSunk by U-67 (Günther Müller-Stöckheim)
Position29° 35'N, 88° 44'W - Grid DA 9326
Complement32 (11 dead and 21 survivors).
Convoy
RouteNew Orleans (5 Jul) - Cristobal 
Cargo2099 tons of general cargo and 13 vehicles as deck cargo 
History Completed in February 1936 
Notes on event

At 18.57 hours on 6 July 1942 the unescorted Bayard (Master Arvid Heiberg) was hit aft by one stern torpedo from U-67 less than 15 minutes after being sighted about 45 miles south of Pascagoula, Mississippi. The explosion destroyed the deck house, stern gun, motorboat, aerial and three vehicles stored on #5 hatch cover and killed two gunners on watch at the gun and most of the deck crew and some engine crew members who had been eating in the aft mess room. The survivors, many of whom were injured, abandoned ship in both port lifeboats while the ship slowly developed a list to port. The master threw the confidential books overboard, carried out a search of the destroyed stern section with the chief officer to make sure that no one was left behind and then left as last man shortly before the Bayard sank by the stern about 10 minutes after being hit. The unarmed Hall PH-2 flying boat V-166 (USCG Air Station Biloxi, pilot Lt D.O. Reed) on an anti-submarine patrol located the boats after one hour and carried out a hazardous open sea landing in order to assist the injured survivors as soon as possible. They took all men aboard, including one man suffering from a possible broken back and severe head injuries and eight had burns of various degrees of seriousness. The overloaded aircraft managed to take off again and proceeded to New Orleans, landing in Lake Pontchartrain off the Yacht basin and transferring the survivors to USCG boats for the trip to shore and medical care in New Orleans.

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 32 people who were on board


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