Dempo
Dutch Troop transport
Photo courtesy of arendnet.com
| Name | Dempo | ||
| Type: | Troop transport | ||
| Tonnage | 17,024 tons (one of the largest ships sunk). | ||
| Completed | 1931 - NV Konmij. Scheepsbouw-en Werktuigenfabriek ´De Schelde´, Vlissingen | ||
| Owner | Koninklijke Rotterdamsche Lloyd NV (W. Ruys & Zonen), Rotterdam | ||
| Homeport | Rotterdam | ||
| Date of attack | 17 Mar 1944 | Nationality:  Dutch | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-371 (Waldemar Mehl) | ||
| Position | 37° 08'N, 5° 27'E - Grid CH 9566 | ||
| Complement | 333 (0 dead and 333 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | SNF-17 | ||
| Route | Naples (15 Mar) - Oran | ||
| Cargo | Ballast - 225 tons pig iron and 2500 tons sand | ||
| History | Completed in February 1931. In March 1941 the motor passenger ship Dempo was requisitioned as troop transport and converted in Liverpool. | ||
| Notes on event | At 09.38 hours on 17 March 1944, U-371 fired a Gnat at convoy SNF-17 about 30 miles north-northeast of Bougie and observed a hit on a ship, which settled by the stern after the hit. At 09.42 hours, a spread of three torpedoes were fired and two hits were heard. After another Gnat at 09.48 hours, a further detonation on another ship was heard. The first torpedo struck the Maiden Creek in station #52 and the second the Dempo. The first ship was hit again at 13.50 hours by a coup de grâce. The Dempo (Master W. Jansen) was hit by a torpedo on the starboard side. Against orders, the crew immediately began to abandon ship, while the master tried to beach his ship, but she settled slowly and sank around 10.55 hours. | ||
| On board | We have details of 227 people who were on board. | ||
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