Ships hit by U-boats


Pennington Court

British Steam merchant



Photo from City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 447-2553

NamePennington Court
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage6,098 tons
Completed1924 - Richardson, Duck & Co Ltd, Stockton-on-Tees 
OwnerCourt Line Ltd (Haldin & Philipps Ltd), London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack9 Oct 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-254 (Odo Loewe)
Position58° 18'N, 27° 55'W - Grid AK 3589
Complement45 (45 dead - no survivors)
ConvoySC-103 (straggler)
RouteSt. John, New Brunswick - Belfast 
Cargo8494 tons of grain and trucks as deck cargo 
History Completed in July 1924 as Rochdale for Rochdale SS Co Ltd (C. Radcliffe & Co), Cardiff. 1927 renamed Pennington Court for Court Line Ltd (Haldin & Philipps Ltd), London. 
Notes on event

At 21.01 hours on 9 Oct 1942 the unescorted Pennington Court (Master John Horne), a straggler from convoy SC-103, was hit by two of three torpedoes from U-254 southeast of Cape Farewell. The U-boat had spotted two stragglers from convoy after they were reported by U-753 (von Mannstein) and subsequently attacked one of them with a spread of three torpedoes of which one was a tube runner. As the ship was still slowly moving after the hits, the U-boat fired its fourth bow torpedo at 21.45 hours, but missed. Five minutes later the stern torpedo was fired which passed underneath the target without detonating. While the crew abandoned ship and sent distress signals, U-254 had to reload the torpedo tubes first because a high swell prevented the use of the deck gun. Pennington Court sank by the bow after being hit amidships by a coup de grĂ¢ce at 23.10 hours. The U-boat then immediately left without questioning the survivors to unsuccessfully chase the other straggler. However, the lifeboats were never found and the master, 40 crew members and four gunners were lost.

 
On boardWe have details of 45 people who were on board


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