Ships hit by U-boats


John Holt

British Steam merchant



NameJohn Holt
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage4,964 tons
Completed1943 - Cammell Laird & Co Ltd, Birkenhead 
OwnerJohn Holt & Co (Liverpool) Ltd, Liverpool 
HomeportLiverpool 
Date of attack5 Mar 1944Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-66 (Gerhard Seehausen)
Position3° 56'N, 7° 36'E - Grid EW 8427
Complement95 (0 dead and 95 survivors).
Convoy
RouteLondon - Lagos - Duala - Warri 
Cargo2600 tons of cement and 100 tons of general cargo, including mail 
History Completed in March 1943 
Notes on event

On 5 March 1944 the unescorted John Holt (Master Cecil Gordon Hime) was hit by two torpedoes from U-66 and sank in five minutes about 60 miles south of the Opobo River in the Gulf of Guinea. The master and one passenger (Stanton Hanna Elliott, an agent of the John Holt Co) were taken prisoner and were later lost with the U-boat. 41 crew members, nine gunners, three passengers and 40 Krooboys were picked up by the British tanker Empire Ruby and landed at Port Harcourt.

 
On boardWe have details of 3 people who were on board


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