Ships hit by U-boats


British Influence

British Motor tanker


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NameBritish Influence
Type:Motor tanker
Tonnage8,431 tons
Completed1939 - Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Walker-on-Tyne 
OwnerBritish Tanker Co Ltd, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack14 Sep 1939Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-29 (Otto Schuhart)
Position49° 43'N, 12° 49'W - Grid BE 3655
Complement42 (0 dead and 42 survivors).
Convoy
RouteAbadan, Persia - Hull 
Cargo12.000 tons of diesel and fuel oil 
History Completed in May 1939 
Notes on event

At 13.15 hours on 14 Sep 1939 the unescorted British Influence (Master Ingersoll Hall McMichael) was stopped by U-29 with two shots across her bow 180 miles southwest of Cape Clear and the crew was ordered to abandon ship. At 14.15 hours, the tanker was hit in the engine room by one G7a torpedo and sank by the stern. The U-boat then fired rockets to attract the attention of rescuers and stopped the Norwegian motor merchant Ida Bakke (Master Anton Zakariassen) en route from Liverpool to the USA and told them where the lifeboats could be found. The master and 41 crew members were picked up by the Norwegian ship, transferred on 15 September off Old Head of Kinsale near Fastnet Light to the Courtmacsherry lifeboat, Co. Cork, and landed at Kinsale Harbour.

The next day, the Ida Bakke rescued the survivors of the Cheyenne, which had been sunk by U-53 (Heinicke).

 
On boardWe have details of 2 people who were on board


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