Empire Mahseer
British Steam merchant
Name | Empire Mahseer | ||
Type: | Steam merchant (Hog Island) | ||
Tonnage | 5,087 tons | ||
Completed | 1920 - American International Shipbuilding Corp, Hog Island PA | ||
Owner | Mitchell, Cotts & Co Ltd, London | ||
Homeport | London | ||
Date of attack | 4 Mar 1943 | Nationality: British | |
Fate | Sunk by U-160 (Georg Lassen) | ||
Position | 32° 01'S, 30° 48'E - Grid KZ 2411 | ||
Complement | 54 (18 dead and 36 survivors). | ||
Convoy | DN-21 | ||
Route | Fanara - Durban - Bahia - Trinidad - Baltimore | ||
Cargo | 2000 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 board | We have details of 20 people who were on board. |
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