Ships hit by U-boats


Hororata

British Steam merchant



NameHororata
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage13,945 tons
Completed1942 - John Brown & Co Ltd, Clydebank 
OwnerNew Zealand Shipping Co Ltd, London 
HomeportPlymouth 
Date of attack13 Dec 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateDamaged by U-103 (Gustav-Adolf Janssen)
Position42° 03'N, 34° 33'W - Grid CE 1521
Complement82 (0 dead and 82 survivors).
Convoy
RouteAuckland (5 Nov) - Lyttelton - Balboa - Cristobal - Liverpool 
CargoRefrigerated and general cargo 
History

Completed in April 1942
At 16.00 hours on 16 May 1942, the Hororata picked up one crew member from Alcoa Guide in 34°45N/71°08W. He was the only survivor of four men who had abandoned ship on a raft when their ship was torpedoed by U-123 (Hardegen) about 300 miles east of Cape Hatteras on 17 April.

Post-war:
On 5 Mar 1955, damaged by fire at Wellington and repaired at Falmouth. On 23 May 1962, the tug Forager capsized while towing Hororata on the River Clyde. Two lives were lost. On 15 Jan 1966, collided with the tug Iselgarth which sank off Penarth. Three lives were lost. In May 1967 sold to Greece and renamed Nor for Astroguarda Cia Naviera SA (Mavroleon Brothers & Co), Piræus. Broken up at Kaohsiung in September 1967.

 
Notes on event

At 18.42 hours on 13 Dec 1942 the unescorted Hororata was hit by one torpedo from U-103 north of the Azores. The U-boat had to use full speed to get into an attack position on the fast ship and lost her afterwards in bad visibility. She escaped and arrived at Santa Cruz the next day and continued in tow to Horta for temporary repairs on 18 December. On 17 March, left the Azores for Liverpool arriving safely after six days. Returned to service in September 1943 after permanent repairs were completed at Cammell, Laird & Co Ltd, Birkenhead.

 
On boardWe have details of 7 people who were on board


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