Empire Housman
We don't have a picture of this vessel at this time.
| Name | Empire Housman | ||
| Type: | Motor merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 7.359 tons | ||
| Completed | 1943 - Wm. Doxford & Sons Ltd, Sunderland | ||
| Owner | Dodd, Thomson & Co Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 3 Jan, 1944 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-744 (Heinz Blischke) | ||
| Position | 60.50N, 22.07W - Grid AE 7877 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 46 (1 dead and 45 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | ON-217 (straggler) | ||
| Route | Tyne - Loch Ewe (24 Dec) - New York | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Built for Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) | ||
| Notes on loss | On 30 Dec, 1943, U-545 (Mannesmann) fired four torpedoes at the convoy ON-217 in 60°30N/24°35W and heard four detonations. Mannesmann claimed hits on four ships and observed one ship sinking on 1 January. However, the only ship hit was Empire Housman (Master David John Lewis), which did not sink after this attack. At 03.55 hours on 3 Jan, 1944, the Empire Housman, now straggling from the convoy, was hit by two torpedoes from U-744 and foundered two days later. One crew member was lost. The master, 37 crew members and seven gunners were picked up by HMS Elm (T 105) (Lt K.A. Grant) and HMS Earner (W 143) and landed at Reykjavik. | ||
If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.