Shirak
Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart
| Name | Shirak | ||
| Type: | Steam tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 6,023 tons | ||
| Completed | 1926 - Sir W.G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Co Ltd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne | ||
| Owner | Baltic Trading Co Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 20 Oct 1940 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-48 (Heinrich Bleichrodt) | ||
| Position | 57.00N, 16.53W - Grid AL 0355 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 37 (0 dead and 37 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | HX-79 (straggler) | ||
| Route | Aruba - Halifax (8 Oct) - London | ||
| Cargo | 7771 tons of refined petroleum products | ||
| History | Completed in March 1926 | ||
| Notes on loss | At 23.31 hours on 19 Oct, 1940, the Shirak (Master Lawrence Robert Morrison) in convoy HX-79 was hit by a stern torpedo from U-47 (Prien), caught fire for a short time and fell behind the convoy where the crew abandoned ship. At 00.24 hours on 20 October, the tanker was hit amidships by torpedo from U-48 caught again fire and sank about 90 miles southwest of Rockall. The master and 36 crew members were picked up by HMS Blackfly (FY 1173) (Lt A.P. Hughes, RNR) and landed at Belfast. | ||
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