Ships hit by U-boats


British Dominion

British Motor tanker



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameBritish Dominion
Type:Motor tanker
Tonnage6,983 tons
Completed1928 - Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Walker-on-Tyne 
OwnerBritish Tanker Co Ltd, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack11 Jan 1943Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-620 (Heinz Stein)
Position30° 30'N, 19° 55'W - Grid DH 5119
Complement53 (38 dead and 15 survivors).
ConvoyTM-1 (straggler)
RouteCuraçao - Trinidad - Gibraltar 
Cargo9000 tons of aviation spirit 
History Completed in April 1928 
Notes on event

At 00.40 hours on 11 January 1943, U-522 (Schneider) attacked convoy TM-1 northwest of the Canary Islands and reported one tanker sunk and one other damaged. In fact, the British Dominion (Master Joseph Douglas Miller) was struck by three torpedoes and abandoned.

After 03.00 hours on 11 January, the wreck was sunk by U-620 with a coup de grâce and gunfire. 33 crew members and four gunners were lost. The master, ten crew members and five gunners were picked up by HMS Godetia (K 226) (Lt A.H. Pierce, OBE, RNR) and landed at Gibraltar, but one crew member had died from injuries and was buried at sea on 14 January.

 
On boardWe have details of 41 people who were on board

Attack entries for British Dominion

DateU-boatCommanderLoss typeTonsNat.
11 Jan 1943U-522Kptlt. Herbert SchneiderDamaged6,983  
11 Jan 1943U-620Oblt. Heinz SteinSunk6,983  


If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.

Return to Allied Ships hit by U-boats