Ships hit by U-boats


Ashworth

British Steam merchant



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameAshworth
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage5,227 tons
Completed1920 - William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd, Sunderland 
OwnerR. S. Dalgliesh Ltd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 
HomeportNewcastle 
Date of attack13 Oct 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-221 (Hans-Hartwig Trojer)
Position53° 05'N, 44° 06'W - Grid AJ 9146
Complement49 (49 dead - no survivors)
ConvoySC-104
RouteTrinidad - Halifax - Belfast 
Cargo7300 tons of bauxite 
History Launched as War Spirea, completed in April 1920 as Ashworth for R. S. Dalgliesh Ltd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 
Notes on event

At 06.22 and 06.23 hours on 13 Oct 1942, U-221 fired one torpedo each at two ships in convoy SC-104 about 500 miles east of Belle Isle Strait and observed how the first ship sank after 20 minutes and the second caught fire and was abandoned. At 07.10 hours, another attack was made in grid AJ 9154 and Trojer claimed a hit on a ship that was down by the stern and sinking, but this is not confirmed by Allied sources.
The Senta was hit immediately after the Ashworth, but the bad weather made it hard to see what was actually taking place and both ships apparently went down with all hands before the rescue vessel reached their position.

The master, 41 crew members and seven gunners from the Ashworth (Master William Mouat) were lost.

 
On boardWe have details of 49 people who were on board


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