Observer
British Steam merchant
| Name | Observer | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 5,881 tons | ||
| Completed | 1928 - C. Connell & Co Ltd, Glasgow | ||
| Owner | T. & J. Harrison, Liverpool | ||
| Homeport | Liverpool | ||
| Date of attack | 16 Dec 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-176 (Reiner Dierksen) | ||
| Position | 5° 30'S, 31° 00'W - Grid FC 8474 | ||
| Complement | 81 (66 dead and 15 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Mersin, Turkey - Capetown (29 Nov) - Trinidad - New York | ||
| Cargo | 3000 tons of chrome ore | ||
| History | | ||
| Notes on event | At 21.27 hours on 16 Dec 1942 the unescorted Observer (Master John Davidson) was hit by two G7a torpedoes from U-176 and sank within 30 seconds about 350 miles east of Cabo Sao Roque, Brazil. The Germans had chased the zigzagging ship for nine hours before attacking and questioned the survivors afterwards. The master, 57 crew members and eight gunners were lost. 14 crew members and one gunner landed at Fortaleza. | ||
| On board | We have details of 62 people who were on board. | ||
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