Ships hit by U-boats


City of Canton

British Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of State Library of New South Wales

NameCity of Canton
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage6,692 tons
Completed1916 - Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend, Sunderland 
OwnerEllerman Lines Ltd, London 
HomeportLiverpool 
Date of attack17 Jul 1943Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-178 (Wilhelm Dommes)
Position13° 52'S, 41° 10'E - Grid LT 8574
Complement93 (7 dead and 86 survivors).
Convoy
RouteLiverpool - Beira (14 Jul) - Mombasa 
Cargo2000 tons of general cargo and 4500 tons of coal 
History Completed in September 1916 
Notes on event

At 00.01 hours on 17 July 1943 the unescorted City of Canton (Master Edward Scrymgeour) was hit by one of two G7a torpedoes from U-178 northeast of Beira. The U-boat had chased the ship since 18 hours, almost loosing her in a rain squall and missing with a spread of two G7e torpedoes at 15.26 hours on 16 July. 15 minutes after the hit a first coup de grĂ¢ce was fired which malfunctioned, but a second hit amidships at 00.31 hours and caused the ship to sink after breaking in two. The Germans questioned the survivors in two lifeboats and took the second officer Reginald Marry Broadbent as prisoner aboard, because the master could not be found.

Seven crew members of the 82 crew members and eleven gunners aboard were lost. Most survivors made landfall in two lifeboats near Pinta lighthouse in Portuguese East Africa. Twelve survivors were picked up by the Portuguese steam passenger ship Luabo and landed in Almino. The master and one crew member were picked up from a raft by FFL Suffren and landed at Durban on 26 July.

 
On boardWe have details of 11 people who were on board


If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.

Return to Allied Ships hit by U-boats