Ships hit by U-boats


Malabar

British Steam merchant



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameMalabar
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage7,976 tons
Completed1938 - William Hamilton & Co Ltd, Port Glasgow 
OwnerT. & J. Brocklebank Ltd, Liverpool 
HomeportLiverpool 
Date of attack29 Oct 1939Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-34 (Wilhelm Rollmann)
Position49° 57'N, 7° 37'W - Grid BF 1387
Complement75 (5 dead and 70 survivors).
ConvoyHX-5A
RoutePhiladelphia - Boston - Halifax (17 Oct) - London - Avonmouth 
CargoGeneral cargo, including lumber and tobacco 
History Completed in September 1938 
Notes on event

At 01.50 hours on 29 Oct 1939, U-34 fired two torpedoes at two steamers and one destroyer in convoy HX-5A about 180 miles west of Lands End and claimed two hits. In fact, only the ship of convoy commodore, the Malabar (Master Henry Herbert Armstrong), was hit and sunk. Five crew members were lost. The master, the commodore (Rear Admiral G.W. Taylor, RNR), two naval staff members and 66 crew members were picked up by HMS Grafton (H 89) (Cdr M.S. Thomas, RN) and landed at Plymouth.

 
On boardWe have details of 6 people who were on board


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