HMS Astronomer
British Boom defence vessel
Photo courtesy of State Library of New South Wales
| Name | HMS Astronomer | ||
| Type: | Boom defence vessel | ||
| Tonnage | 8,401 tons | ||
| Completed | 1917 - D. & W. Henderson & Co Ltd, Glasgow | ||
| Owner | The Admiralty | ||
| Homeport | Liverpool | ||
| Date of attack | 1 Jun 1940 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-58 (Herbert Kuppisch) | ||
| Position | 58° 01'N, 2° 12'W - Grid AN 1829 | ||
| Complement | 105 (4 dead and 101 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Rosyth - Scapa Flow | ||
| Cargo | 3000 tons of naval stores | ||
| History | Completed in August 1917 as steam merchant Astronomer for T. & J. Harrison, Liverpool. In August 1939 requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to a boom defence vessel. | ||
| Notes on event | At 23.48 hours on 1 June 1940, HMS Astronomer (Master John James Egerton) was hit in the stern by one G7e torpedo from U-58 30 miles southeast of Wick. At 03.18 and 04.43 hours on 2 June, the vessel was hit by two coups de grâce and sank about one hour after the last hit in position 58°02N/02°07´30W. Four crew members were lost. The master, 51 crew members, one gunner and 48 naval officers and ratings were picked up by HMS Stoke City (FY 232) (LtCdr N.C.H. Scallan, RNR) and HMS Leicester City (FY 223) (T/Lt A.R. Cornish, RNR) and landed at Rosyth. | ||
| On board | We have details of 5 people who were on board. | ||
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