Ships hit by U-boats


Chattanooga City

American Steam merchant



Photo from City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 447-2091

NameChattanooga City
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage5,687 tons
Completed1921 - Chickasaw Shipbuilding & Car Co, Chickasaw AL 
OwnerIsthmian SS Co, New York 
HomeportNew York 
Date of attack22 Feb 1943Nationality:      American
 
FateSunk by U-606 (Hans-Heinrich Döhler)
Position46° 53'N, 34° 32'W - Grid BD 5441
Complement58 (0 dead and 58 survivors).
ConvoyON-166
RouteLiverpool - New York 
Cargo3500 tons of sand ballast 
History Completed in September 1921 for US Shipping Board (USSB) 
Notes on event

At 22.20 hours on 22 Feb 1943, U-606 attacked convoy ON-166 and torpedoed three ships, the Empire Redshank, Chattanooga City and Expositor. The U-boat was lost after the attack.

The Chattanooga City (Master Robert C. Forbes) was struck by one torpedo in the center of #4 hold. The explosion bodily lifted the ship out of the water, blew off the hatch covers of the #3 and #4 holds, tore deck booms away and probably severed the main shaft. She quickly listed to starboard and settled rapidly. The order to abandon ship was given two minutes after the hit and water reached the welldeck one minute later. The ship sank by the stern in about 15 minutes. The ten officers, 27 crewmen and 21 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, one 12pdr and six 20mm guns) cleared the ship in four lifeboats and one raft. They were picked up three hours later by HMCS Trillium (K 172) (T/Lt P.C. Evans, RCNR). The armed guard officer and ten of his men were transferred to USCGC Spencer (WPG 36) and landed in Argentia, Newfoundland on 27 February. The remaining survivors were landed at St. John’s on 26 February.

 
On boardWe have details of 12 people who were on board


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