Ships hit by U-boats


British Freedom

British Motor tanker



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameBritish Freedom
Type:Motor tanker
Tonnage6,985 tons
Completed1928 - Palmers Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Hebburn-on-Tyne 
OwnerBritish Tanker Co Ltd, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack14 Jan 1945Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-1232 (Kurt Dobratz)
Position44° 28'N, 63° 28'W - Grid BB 7527
Complement57 (1 dead and 56 survivors).
ConvoyBX-141
RouteNew York - UK 
Cargo9723 tons of US Navy special fuel oil 
History Completed in June 1928

At 15.07 hours on 27 June 1942 the British Freedom (Master Francis Main) in convoy KS-514 was torpedoed and damaged by U-701 (Degen) in position 34°45N/75°22W. No casualties among the crew of 55. The ship had been en route in ballast from Scapa Flow to Trinidad via New York and Key West. The tanker reached Hampton Roads the next day and after temporary repairs at Philadelphia continued to New York, was repaired and returned to service in September 1942. 
Notes on event

At 10.35 hours on 14 Jan 1945, U-1232 attacked convoy BX-141 east of Halifax, sank the British Freedom and badly damaged the Martin Van Buren six minutes later. The U-boat then sank the Athelviking and missed HMCS Ettrick (K 254). Dobratz reported the sinking of four ships totalling 30.400 grt.

One crew member from the British Freedom (Master Frank Llewellyn Morris) was lost. The master, 46 crew members and nine gunners were picked up by HMCS Gaspe (J 94) (Lt A.J. Burke, RCNR) and landed at Halifax.

 
On boardWe have details of 62 people who were on board

Attack entries for British Freedom

DateU-boatCommanderLoss typeTonsNat.
27 Jun 1942U-701Kptlt. Horst DegenDamaged6,985  
14 Jan 1945U-1232Kpt. Kurt DobratzSunk6,985  


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