Ships hit by U-boats


Athelviking

British Motor tanker



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameAthelviking
Type:Motor tanker
Tonnage8,779 tons
Completed1926 - Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill, Middlesbrough 
OwnerUnited Molasses Co Ltd, London 
HomeportLiverpool 
Date of attack14 Jan 1945Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-1232 (Kurt Dobratz)
Position44° 28'N, 63° 28'W - Grid BB 7527
Complement51 (4 dead and 47 survivors).
ConvoyBX-141
RoutePort Everglades, Florida - Boston - UK 
Cargo11.630 tons of molasses and 14 landing craft on deck 
History Completed in April 1926 as Norwegian Java for A/S J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi, Bergen. 1933 renamed Athelviking for United Molasses Co Ltd, London.

On 13 Mar 1940, the British steam merchant Rossington Court (6922 grt) collided with the Athelviking and sank about 600 miles east of Halifax. 
Notes on event

At 10.35 hours on 14 Jan 1945, U-1232 attacked convoy BX-141 east of Halifax, sank the British Freedom and badly damaged the Martin Van Buren six minutes later. The U-boat then sank the Athelviking and missed HMCS Ettrick (K 254). Dobratz reported sinking four ships totalling 30.400 grt.

The master and three crew members from the Athelviking (Master Egerton Gabriel B. Martin, OBE) were lost. 39 crew members and eight gunners were picked up by the Canadian motor launch HMCS ML-102 (Lt J.K. Macdonald) and landed at Halifax.

 
On boardWe have details of 5 people who were on board


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