Zealand
British Steam merchant
Photo courtesy of the Allen Collection
| Name | Zealand | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 1,433 tons | ||
| Completed | 1936 - Barclay, Curle & Co, Whiteinch, Glasgow | ||
| Owner | James Currie & Co Ltd, Leith | ||
| Homeport | Leith | ||
| Date of attack | 28 Jun 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-97 (Friedrich Bürgel) | ||
| Position | 32° 27'N, 34° 43'E - Grid CP 5953 | ||
| Complement | 33 (14 dead and 19 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | Metril | ||
| Route | Port Said - Famagusta | ||
| Cargo | Aviation spirit in drums | ||
| History | Completed in January 1936 | ||
| Notes on event | At 13.16 hours on 28 June 1942, U-97 fired a spread of two torpedoes at a convoy of three merchants with escorts (codenamed Metril) 14 miles south-southwest of Haifa and hit the Zealand, which sank within seconds. At 13.24 hours, a stern torpedo was fired which hit the Memas. Ten crew members and four gunners from Zealand (Master Lancelot James Branagan) were lost. The master, twelve crew members and six gunners were picked up by HMS Islay (T 172) (Lt C.H.L. Clarke, RNR) and landed at Haifa. | ||
| On board | We have details of 16 people who were on board. | ||
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