Ships hit by U-boats


William Ellery

American Steam merchant


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NameWilliam Ellery
Type:Steam merchant (Liberty)
Tonnage7,181 tons
Completed1942 - Permanente Metals Corp, Richmond CA 
OwnerMcCormick SS Co, San Francisco CA 
HomeportSan Francisco 
Date of attack30 Jul 1943Nationality:      American
 
FateDamaged by U-197 (Robert Bartels)
Position32° 00'S, 36° 00'E - Grid KP 98
Complement66 (0 dead and 66 survivors).
Convoy
RouteBasra, Iraq (9 Jul) - Port Elizabeth - Paramaribo 
Cargo25 tons of general cargo as ballast 
History Completed in May 1942 
Notes on event

At 23.15 hours on 30 July 1943 the unescorted William Ellery (Master David Slater McDonald) was hit on the port side in the #4 hold by one torpedo from U-197 while steaming at 11.5 knots about 300 miles east-southeast of Durban. Lookouts spotted a second torpedo passing under the port quarter. The explosion opened a 450 square-foot hole, but a damage control party led by the chief engineer shored up the bulkhead between #4 and #5 holds while the ship was escaping at 9 knots, arriving on 1 August under her own power in Durban, where she was dry docked for repairs on 30 August and returned to service. All eight officers, 31 crewmen and 27 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, one 3in and eight 20mm guns) on board survived.

 
On boardWe have details of 1 people who were on board


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