Ships hit by U-boats


Regent Lion

British Motor tanker



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameRegent Lion
Type:Motor tanker
Tonnage9,551 tons
Completed1937 - Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend, Sunderland 
OwnerC.T. Bowring & Co Ltd, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack17 Feb 1945Nationality:      British
 
FateA total loss by U-300 (Fritz Hein)
Position35° 56'N, 5° 45'W - Grid CG 95
Complement52 (7 dead and 45 survivors).
ConvoyUGS-72
RouteNew York - Suez 
Cargo12440 tons of aviation gasolene 
History At 08.36 and 08.38 hours on 16 Dec 1942, U-610 (Freyberg-Eisenberg-Allmendingen) fired two spreads of two torpedoes at the convoy ON-153 in grid AL 7837 and observed two hits on a first tanker that sank burning in 4 minutes and a hit with a column of fire on another tanker. The Bello was sunk and the Regent Lion damaged. 
Notes on event

At 11.00 hours on 17 Feb 1945, U-300 fired two spreads of two torpedoes at convoy UGS-72 27 miles from Gibraltar and hit the Michael J. Stone in station #43 and the Regent Lion.

The badly damaged Regent Lion (Master Colin Thomas Pitt) was taken in tow by HMS Rollicker (W 21) and HMS Arctic Ranger (FY 186) (Lt J. Howson) on 19 February and was later grounded on Perl Rock, one mile south of Carnero Point. She was declared a total loss. Seven crew members were lost. The master, 40 crew members and four gunners were picked up by HMS Arctic Ranger (FY 186) and USS Francis M. Robinson (DE 220) and landed in Gibraltar.

 
On boardWe have details of 13 people who were on board

Attack entries for Regent Lion

DateU-boatCommanderLoss typeTonsNat.
16 Dec 1942U-610Kptlt. Walter Freiherr von Freyberg-Eisenberg-AllmendingenDamaged9,551  
17 Feb 1945U-300Oblt. Fritz HeinTotal loss9,551  


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