Ships hit by U-boats


Empire Crossbill

British Steam merchant



Empire Crossbill under her former name West Amargosa. Photo from US National Archives #RG-32-S

NameEmpire Crossbill
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage5,463 tons
Completed1919 - Los Angeles Shipbuilding & Drydock Corp, San Pedro CA 
OwnerJohn Morrison & Son, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack11 Sep 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-82 (Siegfried Rollmann)
Position63° 14'N, 37° 12'W - Grid AD 7143
Complement49 (49 dead - no survivors)
ConvoySC-42
RoutePhiladelphia - Sydney (30 Aug) - Hull 
Cargo6686 tons of steel and 4 tons of relief goods 
History Completed in March 1919 as West Amargosa for US Shipping Board (USSB) and later laid up as part of the reserve fleet. On 14 November 1940 given to Britain and renamed Empire Crossbill by Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) for Sir W. Reardon Smith & Sons, later the same year given to John Morrison & Son. 
Notes on event

At 07.05 hours on 11 September 1941, U-82 fired three torpedoes at three ships in convoy SC-42 east of Cape Farewell and observed two hits. The Empire Crossbill sank immediately and the Scania was later sunk by U-202 (Linder).

The Empire Crossbill (Master Eric Robinson Townend) sank with all hands: the master, 38 crew members, nine gunners and one passenger were lost.

 
On boardWe have details of 49 people who were on board


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