Ships hit by U-boats


Empire Tourist

British Steam merchant



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameEmpire Tourist
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage7,062 tons
Completed1942 - Bartram & Sons Ltd, South Dock, Sunderland 
OwnerMitchell, Cotts & Co Ltd, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack4 Mar 1944Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-703 (Joachim BrĂ¼nner)
Position73° 25'N, 22° 11'E - Grid AC 4438
Complement68 (0 dead and 68 survivors).
ConvoyRA-57
RouteMurmansk - Loch Ewe 
Cargo400 standards of timber and 600 tons of coal 
History Built for Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) 
Notes on event

On 4 March 1944, U-703 attacked convoy RA-57 near Kola Inlet with a spread of FAT torpedoes and sank the Empire Tourist (Master Hugh McCracken).
At 15.45 hours, U-703 fired a Gnat and heard a detonation after 3 minutes 10 seconds, which was observed by HMS Milne (G 14). The U-boat was then attacked by this destroyer with depth charges for several hours.

The master, 41 crew members, 23 gunners, two signalmen and one naval personnel from the Empire Tourist were picked up by HMS Gleaner (J 83) (LtCdr J.G. Hewitt, DSC) and landed at Aultbea, Loch Ewe.

 
On boardWe have details of 3 people who were on board


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