HMS Dunvegan Castle
British Armed Merchant Cruiser
| Name | HMS Dunvegan Castle | ||
| Type: | Armed Merchant Cruiser | ||
| Tonnage | 15,007 tons (one of the largest ships sunk). | ||
| Completed | 1936 - Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast | ||
| Owner | The Admiralty | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 27 Aug 1940 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-46 (Engelbert Endrass) | ||
| Position | 55° 05'N, 11° 00'W - Grid AM 5482 | ||
| Complement | 277 (27 dead and 250 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | SL-43 | ||
| Route | Freetown (11 Aug) - Belfast | ||
| Cargo | |||
| History | Completed in August 1936 as motor passenger ship for Union-Castle Mail SS Co Ltd, London. On 7 Sep 1939, requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to the armed merchant cruiser HMS Dunvegan Castle until 20 December. | ||
| Notes on event | At 21.47 hours on 27 Aug 1940, HMS Dunvegan Castle (Capt H. Ardill (retired), RN), escorting convoy SL-43, was hit aft of the bridge by one torpedo from U-46 about 120 miles southwest of Cape Clear. As the ship continued, the U-boat fired two further torpedoes at 22.12 and 22.51 hours, which hit the engine room and just before the bridge. The vessel stopped, caught fire and foundered the next day in 54°54N/11°W. Three officers and 24 ratings were lost. The commander and 249 crew members (twelve of them wounded) were picked up by HMS Harvester (H 19) (LtCdr M. Thornton, RN) and HMS Primrose (K 91) and landed in Scotland. | ||
| On board | We have details of 34 people who were on board. | ||
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