Gaasterkerk
Photo Courtesy of arendnet.com
| Name | Gaasterkerk | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 8.679 tons | ||
| Completed | 1922 - New Waterway Shipbuilding Co, Schiedam | ||
| Owner | Vereenigde Nederlandsche Scheepvaart Mij NV, The Hague | ||
| Homeport | The Hague | ||
| Date of attack | 8 Oct, 1942 | Nationality:  Dutch | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-68 (Karl-Friedrich Merten) | ||
| Position | 34.20S, 18.10E - Grid GR 5932 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 64 (0 dead and 64 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Alexandria - Aden - Capetown - New York | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Built as Gaastergijk, 1931 renamed Gaasterkerk, 1932 lenghtened | ||
| Notes on loss | At 03.46 hours on 8 Oct, 1942, the unescorted Gaasterkerk was struck near the engine room by one torpedo from U-68. After the crew abandoned ship, a second torpedo hit the aft magazine in the stern and the explosions caused the ship to sink quickly. All hands were picked up shortly afterwards by the HMAS Nizam (G 38) and landed in Capetown. | ||
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