Ships hit by U-boats


Mokambo

Belgian Motor merchant


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NameMokambo
Type:Motor merchant
Tonnage4,996 tons
Completed1938 - Flensburger Schiffsbau-Ges., Flensburg 
OwnerCompagnie Maritime Belge (Lloyd Royal) SA, Antwerp 
HomeportAntwerp 
Date of attack1 May 1943Nationality:      Belgian
 
FateSunk by U-515 (Werner Henke)
Position7° 58'N, 14° 14'W - Grid ET 6128
Complement57 (0 dead and 57 survivors).
ConvoyTS-37
RouteMatadi - Takoradi (26 Apr) - Freetown - Liverpool 
Cargo2000 tons of cotton, 2000 tons of copper, 1520 tons of palm kernels, 1139 tons of palm oil, 440 tons of copal and 38 tons of wolframite 
History Launched as Norwegian Fernplant for Fearnley & Eger, Oslo, completed in December 1938 as Belgian Mokambo for Compagnie Maritime Belge (Lloyd Royal) SA, Antwerp.

On 2 Jun 1941, the Mokambo in convoy OB-329 was torpedoed and damaged by U-147 (Wetjen) in 56°38N/10°24W. The U-boat was sunk after the attack by the convoy escorts. The ship had been en route from Liverpool for Freetown and Matadi with general cargo. No casualties among the 43 crew members and four gunners aboard. She was taken in tow for the Clyde, arriving on 4 June, was repaired and returned to service in August 1941. 
Notes on event

At 05.40 hours on 1 May 1943, U-515 attacked convoy TS-37 for a second time about 75 miles southwest of Freetown and fired three single torpedoes. The first hit the City of Singapore after 1 minute 8 seconds in the stern and the ship was observed to burn fiercely before she sank. The second torpedo hit the Mokambo after 1 minute 5 seconds and set her on fire. The third torpedo hit after 35 seconds the Clan Macpherson, which began to sink by the stern.

The Mokambo (Master E. Huys) was badly damaged, but remained afloat. The ship was towed to Freetown roads by the tugs HMS Aimwell (W 113) and HMS Oriana (W 117), but capsized on 2 May and sank. Two men were injured of the crew of 51 (27 Belgians, 16 Congolesians and 8 British) and six gunners.

 
On boardWe have details of 73 people who were on board

Attack entries for Mokambo

DateU-boatCommanderLoss typeTonsNat.
2 Jun 1941U-147Oblt. Eberhard WetjenDamaged4,996  
1 May 1943U-515Kptlt. Werner HenkeSunk4,996  


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