Colombia
Dutch Submarine tender
The Colombia at Herok, Iceland.
| Name | Colombia | ||
| Type: | Submarine tender | ||
| Tonnage | 10,782 tons | ||
| Completed | 1930 - P. Smit Jnr., Rotterdam | ||
| Owner | Koninklijke Nederlandsche Stoomboot Mij NV, Amsterdam | ||
| Homeport | Amsterdam | ||
| Date of attack | 27 Feb 1943 | Nationality:  Dutch | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-516 (Gerhard Wiebe) | ||
| Position | 33° 36'S, 27° 29'E - Grid KZ 1791 | ||
| Complement | 326 (8 dead and 318 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | East London - Simonstown | ||
| Cargo | |||
| History | In early 1941, the motor passenger ship Colombia was requisitioned by the Royal Netherlands Navy and converted to a submarine tender. The ship left for the Far East in early 1942. | ||
| Notes on event | The Colombia (Comdr J.L.K. Hoeke) was en route to Simonstown to dock, escorted by HMS Genista (K 200) and several RAF aircraft. At 11.41 hours on 27 Feb 1943, U-516 fired a spread of three torpedoes from a distance of 1500 metres on a ship near Simonstown, which was identified as a passenger-cargo ship of the Blue Star Line of 10.000 tons. Four minutes later, one torpedo struck the Colombia at #2 hold, just before the bridge and a large column of water arose beside the ship, while the deckplanks were thrown in all directions. All hands immediately abandoned ship, apparently without any casualties and the ship sank after ten minutes. A headcount showed that eight men were missing. | ||
| On board | We have details of 239 people who were on board. | ||
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