Ships hit by U-boats


Protesilaus

British Steam merchant



Photo from City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 447-2609.1

NameProtesilaus
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage9,577 tons
Completed1910 - R. & W. Hawthorn, Leslie & Co Ltd, Hebburn-on-Tyne 
OwnerAlfred Holt & Co, Liverpool 
HomeportLiverpool 
Date of attack21 Jan 1940Nationality:      British
 
FateA total loss by U-28 (Günter Kuhnke)
Position51° 31'N, 4° 04'W - Grid AM 9863
Complement? men (0 dead and ? survivors).
Convoy
RouteLiverpool - Barry 
CargoBallast 
History Completed in January 1910 
Notes on event

At 09.36 hours on 21 Jan 1940 the Protesilaus (Master Alfred Henry Dennistoun Shand) struck a mine laid on 5 Dec 1939 by U-28 in the Bristol Channel off Rotherslade southwest of Swansea. The badly damaged vessel was towed to the Swansea Bay and beached. The crew was rescued by the British M/S trawler HMS Paramount (FY 954) (Skipper C.E. Blowers, RNR) and landed at Swansea.

The Protesilaus was later refloated and towed to Greenock but declared a total loss. In September 1940 she was taken in tow by the British tugs Empire Henchman and HMS Abeille XXII to Scapa Flow for use as a blockship, but on 13 September the ship sprung a leak and had to be sunk by gunfire about 5 miles northwest of the Skerryvore Lighthouse, Argyllshire.

 
On boardWe have details of 1 people who were on board


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