Blairspey
Photo courtesy of the Allen Collection
| Name | Blairspey | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 4,155 tons | ||
| Completed | 1929 - Ardrossan Dockyard & Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Ardrossan | ||
| Owner | George Nisbet & Co, Glasgow | ||
| Homeport | Glasgow | ||
| Date of attack | 19 Oct 1940 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Damaged by U-100 (Joachim Schepke) | ||
| Position | 57.55N, 11.10W - Grid AM 2919 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 34 (? dead and ? survivors). | ||
| Convoy | SC-7 (straggler) | ||
| Route | Rimouski, Quebec - Grangemouth | ||
| Cargo | Timber | ||
| History | Completed in October 1929 Post-war:In 1946 the Empire Spey was returned to her pre-war owner and renamed Blairspey. 1961 renamed Evandros under Lebanese flag for Marfuente Cia Nav SA (J.P. Hadoulis), Panama. Broken up in La Spezia in May 1967. | ||
| Notes on loss | At 23.08 hours on 18 Oct, 1940, U-101 (Frauenheim) attacked the convoy SC-7 east-northeast of Rockall and claimed two ships with 9500 grt sunk and one with 6000 grt damaged. According to Allied sources only the Blairspey was hit by one or two torpedoes at this time and fell behind the convoy. At 02.50 hours on 19 Oct, 1940, the now straggling Blairspey was hit by two torpedoes from U-100, but the badly damaged ship remained afloat because her load of timber and was saved. The Blairspey was not repaired until 1942, when she was rebuilt with a new forepart for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), but still managed by her old owner and renamed Empire Spey. | ||
If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.