Ships hit by U-boats


Ascanius

British Troop transport



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameAscanius
Type:Troop transport
Tonnage10,048 tons
Completed1910 - Workman, Clark & Co Ltd, Belfast 
OwnerAlfred Holt & Co, Liverpool 
HomeportLiverpool 
Date of attack30 Jul 1944Nationality:      British
 
FateDamaged by U-621 (Hermann Stuckmann)
Position50.15N, 00.48W - Grid BF 3274
Complement? men (5 dead and ? survivors).
ConvoyEBC-54
RouteBarry (29 Jul) - Normandy 
Cargo 
History Completed in December 1910 as steam passenger ship. 1914 requisitioned as troop transport for the Australian Expeditionary Force (AEF) and returned to the owner in 1920. 1940 again requisitioned by the Admiralty for use as a troopship.

Post-war:
After the war, the Ascanius brought Jewish emigrants from Marseilles to Haifa and was 1949 sold to Italy and renamed San Giovannino for Cia de Nav. Florencia (A. Motosi), Genoa. They had planned to carry emigrants from Italy to Australia, but she had to be laid up due to her age and was broken up at La Spezia in July 1952.

 
Notes on loss

On 30 Jul, 1944, U-621 attacked the convoy EBC-54 in the English Channel with LUT torpedoes and claimed a ship with 9000 tons sunk. In fact, the Ascanius was damaged and towed to the Normandy, later reached Liverpool and was repaired by Cammell Laird. The ship had been en route to the Normandy beaches for use as a depot ship for personnel.

 
CrewlistsWe have listing of 3 people who were on this vessel 

Location of attack on Ascanius.

ship damaged.


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