Ships hit by U-boats


Empire Bede

British Motor merchant


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NameEmpire Bede
Type:Motor merchant
Tonnage6,959 tons
Completed1942 - Harland & Wolff Ltd, Govan, Glasgow 
OwnerHain SS Co, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack18 Aug 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-553 (Karl Thurmann)
Position19° 35'N, 76° 25'W - Grid DN 7472
Complement45 (2 dead and 43 survivors).
ConvoyTAW-13
RouteAlexandria - Trinidad (12 Aug) - Key West - New York 
CargoCotton 
History Built for Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) 
Notes on event

At 05.59 and 06.03 hours on 18 Aug 1942, U-553 fired two spreads each of two torpedoes at convoy TAW-13 north of Jamaica and one stern torpedo at 06.06 hours. Thurmann reported three freighters sunk and one tanker damaged.
However, only the Emipre Bede (Master Thomas Edward Daniel) was hit by one torpedo and was later scuttled by gunfire by HMS Pimpernel (K 71) (LtCdr F.H. Thornton) in 19°41N/76°50W. Two crew members were lost. The master, 34 crew members, six gunners and two singalmen were picked up by the corvette and landed at Santiago de Cuba.

 
On boardWe have details of 4 people who were on board. 


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