Ships hit by U-boats


Ramillies

British Steam merchant



Photo from City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 447-2620.1

NameRamillies
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage4,553 tons
Completed1927 - W. Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool 
OwnerJohn Cory & Sons Ltd, Cardiff 
HomeportCardiff 
Date of attack8 May 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-97 (Udo Heilmann)
Position48° 05'N, 32° 26'W - Grid BD 5533
Complement41 (29 dead and 12 survivors).
ConvoyOB-317 (dispersed)
RouteTyne - Oban - Baltimore 
Cargo3074 tons of coke 
History Completed in August 1927 
Notes on event

At 08.00 hours on 7 May 1941, U-97 spotted two merchants on west course southeast of Cape Farewell and four hours later two others that followed the first group. All ships had been dispersed from convoy OB-317. The U-boat chased the first ships and fired at 17.04 hours a torpedo at the Ramillies (Master William Henry Macey), but missed and was not able to fire at the ships of the second group because they were too far away. So the U-boat had to overtake the first group again during the night and fired at 12.14 hours on 8 May another torpedo at the same ship but again missed. At 18.13 hours, a third torpedo was fired which hit the Ramillies and stopped her but did not sink. At 18.48 hours, a coup de grĂ¢ce was fired that malfunctioned, but the second at 19.03 hours hit the ship in the stern and caused her to sink fast in the vertical. The master, 25 crew members and three gunners were lost. Eleven crew members and one gunner were picked up by the British steam merchant Geddington Court and landed at Halifax.

 
On boardWe have details of 29 people who were on board


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