Jamaica Pioneer
British Steam merchant
Photo courtesy of the Allen Collection
| Name | Jamaica Pioneer | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 5,471 tons | ||
| Completed | 1931 - Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow | ||
| Owner | Jamaica Banana Producer´s SS Co Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | Kingston | ||
| Date of attack | 25 Aug 1940 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-100 (Joachim Schepke) | ||
| Position | 57° 05'N, 11° 02'W - Grid AM 2952 | ||
| Complement | 57 (2 dead and 55 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Kingston, Jamaica - Avonmouth | ||
| Cargo | 1900 tons of bananas | ||
| History | Completed in March 1931 | ||
| Notes on event | At 19.12 hours on 25 Aug 1940 the unescorted Jamaica Pioneer (Master Thomas Elwyn Maurice Jenkins) was hit by a torpedo from U-100 east of Rockall. The ship had been missed by a first torpedo at 19.08 hours and was missed again at 19.30 hours. After a second hit at 19.34 hours, the U-boat tried to sink the vessel by gunfire and fired 55 rounds without hitting the ship, which was finally sunk with a coup de grâce at 20.12 hours. Two crew members were lost. The master, 52 crew members and two gunners were rescued. Some of them were picked up by HMS Anthony (H 40) (LtCdr N.J.V. Thew, RN) and landed at Greenock and the remaining survivors by HMS Wanderer (D 74) (Cdr J.H. Ruck-Keene, RN) and were landed at Belfast. | ||
| On board | We have details of 3 people who were on board. | ||
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