Helmspey
British Steam merchant
Name | Helmspey | ||
Type: | Steam merchant | ||
Tonnage | 4,764 tons | ||
Completed | 1931 - J.L. Thompson & Sons Ltd, North Sands, Sunderland | ||
Owner | E.R. Management Co Ltd, Cardiff | ||
Homeport | Cardiff | ||
Date of attack | 11 Feb 1943 | Nationality: British | |
Fate | Sunk by U-516 (Gerhard Wiebe) | ||
Position | 34° 22'S, 24° 54'E - Grid KY 6267 | ||
Complement | 46 (5 dead and 41 survivors). | ||
Convoy | |||
Route | Colombo - East London - UK | ||
Cargo | 2772 tons of tea, 2000 tons of manganese ore, 1457 tons of rubber and 464 tons of general cargo | ||
History | Completed in January 1931 | ||
Notes on event | At 06.52 hours on 11 February 1943 the unescorted Helmspey (Master Harry Jones) was torpedoed by U-516 and sunk at 07.12 hours by coup de grĂ¢ce 11 miles south of Cape St. Francis, Cape Colony. Four crew members were lost. The master, 31 crew members, eight gunners and two passengers (naval ratings) were picked up by the SAAF crash launch R-4 and landed at Port Elizabeth, where one crew member died of injuries in a hospital. | ||
On board | We have details of 6 people who were on board. |
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