Ships hit by U-boats


Empire Mahseer

British Steam merchant


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NameEmpire Mahseer
Type:Steam merchant (Hog Island)
Tonnage5,087 tons
Completed1920 - American International Shipbuilding Corp, Hog Island PA 
OwnerMitchell, Cotts & Co Ltd, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack4 Mar 1943Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-160 (Georg Lassen)
Position32° 01'S, 30° 48'E - Grid KZ 2411
Complement54 (18 dead and 36 survivors).
ConvoyDN-21
RouteFanara - Durban - Bahia - Trinidad - Baltimore 
Cargo2000 tons of manganese ore 
History Laid down as Coleta, completed in March 1920 as Liberty Bell for US Shipping Board (USSB), Philadelphia. 1921 sold to Pioneer SS Corp, New York. 1923 returned to USSB and 1937 sold to Lykes Bros SS Co Inc, New Orleans. 1941 given to Britain and renamed Empire Mahseer by Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). 
Notes on event

At 01.10 hours on 4 March 1943, U-160 made a second attack at convoy DN-21 east-northeast of East London and reported hits on two ships, one of which was thought to have been sunk and the other left in sinking condition. In fact, the Empire Mahseer (Master Morgan Williams) was hit by two torpedoes and sank within two minutes. 17 crew members and one gunner were lost. The master, 29 crew members and six gunners were picked up by HMS Norwich City (FY 229) (Lt L.H. Stammers, RNVR) and landed at Durban.

 
On boardWe have details of 20 people who were on board


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