Ships hit by U-boats


Susan Mærsk

British Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of Danish Maritime Museum, Elsinore

NameSusan Mærsk
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage2,355 tons
Completed1923 - Odense Staalskibsværft ved A.P. Møller, Odense 
OwnerWilliam Petersen & Co Ltd, London 
HomeportBelfast 
Date of attack12 Jun 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-553 (Karl Thurmann)
Position44° 45'N, 25° 15'W - Grid BD 9398
Complement24 (24 dead - no survivors)
ConvoyOG-64 (detached)
RouteNewport (1 Jun) - Milford Haven (3 Jun) - Curaçao 
CargoBallast 
History Completed in October 1923 as Danish Susan Mærsk for A.P. Møller, Copenhagen. In May 1940 taken over by Britain and transferred to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). 
Notes on event

At 01.22 hours on 12 June 1941, U-553 fired one torpedo at an unescorted freighter about 370 miles north-northeast of the Azores and observed how the ship sank within 90 seconds after being hit underneath the bridge. The U-boat had spotted the ship about five hours earlier and missed with a stern torpedo at 01.05 hours. The target must have been the Susan Mærsk (Master Kaj Bjørn Thomsen) which was reported missing after being detached from convoy OG-64. The master, 22 crew members and one gunner were lost.

 
On boardWe have details of 23 people who were on board


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