Ships hit by U-boats


Vojvoda Putnik

Yugoslavian Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of Paul Johnson Collection

NameVojvoda Putnik
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage5,879 tons
Completed1916 - Northumberland Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Howden-on-Tyne 
OwnerJugoslavenski Lloyd Akcionarsko Drustvo, Zagreb 
HomeportSplit 
Date of attack8 Mar 1943Nationality:      Yugoslavian
 
FateSunk by U-591 (Hans-Jürgen Zetzsche)
Position58° 42'N, 31° 25'W - Grid AK 3586
Complement46 (46 dead - no survivors)
ConvoySC-121 (straggler)
RouteBahia Blanca (13 Dec) - New York (23 Feb) - Loch Ewe - London 
Cargo7900 tons of wheat and tanks as deck cargo 
History Completed in February 1916 as British Kerry Range for Neptune Steam Navigation Co Ltd (Furness, Withy & Co Ltd), Liverpool. 1919 sold to Canada and renamed Blossom Heath for Steam Navigation Co of Canada Ltd, Montreal. 1922 sold to Yugoslavia and renamed Vojvoda Putnik
Notes on event

Since the morning of 8 March 1943 the Vojvoda Putnik (Master Mario Petric) was straggling from station #22 in convoy SC-121 due to steering difficulties after stormy weather. At 16.21 hours, she was last heard in a radio message stating that she was sinking about 600 miles east-southeast of Cape Farewell and was reported missing with 38 crew members and eight gunners. At 14.05 hours, U-591 had spotted the lone freighter and tried to attack submerged about two hours later, but broke to the surface from periscope depth and was shortly thereafter attacked by a Liberator aircraft. The U-boat waited until darkness and missed the ship which was now laying stopped with two torpedoes at 20.58 and 21.17 hours, but the third torpedo fired at 21.19 hours was seen to hit aft after 2 minutes 59 seconds. The Germans then left the area due to the presence of an escort ship, but clearly heard sinking noises. USS Greer (DD 145) was ordered to assist Vojvoda Putnik but failed to find her or the survivors before dusk and had to rejoin convoy after searching the area for only one hour.

 
On boardWe have details of 44 people who were on board


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