Ships hit by U-boats


Bic Island

Canadian Steam merchant



Bic Island under her former name Capo Noli. Photo from naviearmatori.net

NameBic Island
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage3,921 tons
Completed1917 - Workman, Clark & Co Ltd, Belfast 
OwnerMerchant Marine Ltd, Ottawa 
HomeportOttawa 
Date of attack29 Oct 1942Nationality:      Canadian
 
FateSunk by U-224 (Hans-Karl Kosbadt)
Position55° 05'N, 23° 27'W - Grid AL 4552
Complement165 (165 dead - no survivors)
ConvoyHX-212 (straggler)
RouteHalifax - Liverpool 
Cargo4430 tons of foodstuffs and government stores 
History Completed in December 1917 as British Munardan for Crossburn SS Co Ltd (Clark & Service), Glasgow. 1937 sold to Italy and renamed Capo Noli for Co Genovese di Nav. a Vapore SA, Genoa. On 10 Jun 1940, captured in the Gulf of St. Lawrence by HMCS Bras d'Or (Lt Charles A. Hornsby, RCNR) and renamed Bic Island.

On 16 Dec 1940, the Bic Island was damaged by a German aircraft in 54°12N/17°45W, while en route in convoy OB-258 from Liverpool to Halifax with general cargo and ballast.

 
Notes on event

At 00.15 hours on 29 Oct 1942 the Bic Island (Master James Brown), a straggler from convoy HX-212, was torpedoed and sunk by U-224 southwest of Rockall. The ship was straggling after picking up 44 survivors from Gurney E. Newlin, which had been sunk by U-606 (Döhler) the previous day and 77 survivors from Sourabaya, sunk on 27 October by U-436 (Seibicke). The master, 35 crew members, eight gunners and all 121 survivors were lost.

 
On boardWe have details of 41 people who were on board


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