Empire Merlin
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| Name | Empire Merlin | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 5,763 tons | ||
| Completed | 1919 - Ames Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co, Seattle WA | ||
| Owner | Sir R. Ropner & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 25 Aug 1940 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-48 (Hans Rudolf Rösing) | ||
| Position | 58.30N, 10.15W - Grid AM 2583 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 36 (35 dead and 1 survivor). | ||
| Convoy | HX-65A | ||
| Route | Port Sulphur, Louisiana - Hull | ||
| Cargo | 6830 tons of sulphur | ||
| History | Built as American West Isleta for US Shipping Board, Seattle; 1926 sold to American South African Line, New York. 1940 given to Britain and renamed Empire Merlin by Ministy of War Transport (MoWT). | ||
| Notes on loss | At 02.45 hours on 25 Aug, 1940, U-48 attacked the convoy HX-65A 90 miles east by north of Flannan Isles and sank the Athelcrest and Empire Merlin. The Empire Merlin (Master David W. Simpson OBE) sank in 35 seconds. The master, 33 crew members and one gunner were lost. The sole survivor ordinary seaman John Lee was picked up by the British corvette HMS Godetia (K 72) (LtCdr G.V. Lagassisk) and landed at Methil. | ||
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