Eleni Stathatou
Greek Steam merchant
Eleni Stathatou under her former name Lancaster Castle. Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart
| Name | Eleni Stathatou | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 5,625 tons | ||
| Completed | 1919 - Northumberland Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Howden-on-Tyne | ||
| Owner | Demetrios Denys Stathatos, Anthony D. Stathatos and others, Athens | ||
| Homeport | Ithaca | ||
| Date of attack | 28 Jan 1940 | Nationality:  Greek | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-34 (Wilhelm Rollmann) | ||
| Position | 48° 49'N, 8° 34'W - Grid BF 1863 | ||
| Complement | ? men (12 dead and ? survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Newport - Gulf ports | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Laid down as War Terrace for The Shipping Controller, completed in August 1919 as Lancaster Castle for Lancashire Shipping Co (J. Chambers & Co), Liverpool. 1936 renamed Seapharer for Seafarers SS Ltd (Stathatos & Co), London. 1938 renamed Eleni Stathatou for D.D. Stathatos, Ithaca. | ||
| Notes on event | At 02.52 hours on 28 Jan 1940 the unescorted Eleni Stathatou (Master Dimitri Gratsos) was hit near the bridge by one stern torpedo from U-34 about 200 miles west of the Scilly Isles. Because the U-boat had only one torpedo left they waited nearby for the stopped vessel to sink, but after one hour the ship moved again. At 04.21 hours, the last torpedo was fired that hit in the forward part and caused the ship to sink slowly. | ||
| On board | We have details of 1 people who were on board. | ||
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