Ships hit by U-boats


Sandsend

British Steam merchant



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameSandsend
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage3,612 tons
Completed1925 - William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd, Sunderland 
OwnerHeadlam & Sons, Whitby 
HomeportWhitby 
Date of attack18 Oct 1940Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-48 (Heinrich Bleichrodt)
Position58° 12'N, 21° 29'W - Grid AL 2593
Complement39 (5 dead and 34 survivors).
ConvoyOB-228 (straggler)
RoutePort Talbot - Quebec 
Cargo4350 tons of anthracite 
History  
Notes on event

At 10.25 hours on 18 Oct 1940 the Sandsend (Master William Armstrong), a straggler from convoy OB-228, was hit by one torpedo from U-48 and sank by the bow after the crew had abandoned ship in three lifeboats 254 miles west-northwest of Rockall. The U-boat had spotted a group of three stragglers and attacked the one in the middle, but missed with the first two torpedoes at 08.08 and 08.09 hours before hitting the same target with the third torpedo. The contact to the other two ships was then lost in the mist. Five crew members were lost. The master and 33 crew members were picked up by HMS Hibiscus (K 24) (LtCdr R. Phillips) and landed at Methil.

 
On boardWe have details of 7 people who were on board


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