Ships hit by U-boats


Blairspey

British Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, N51657

NameBlairspey
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage4,155 tons
Completed1929 - Ardrossan Dockyard & Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Ardrossan 
OwnerGeorge Nisbet & Co, Glasgow 
HomeportGlasgow 
Date of attack19 Oct 1940Nationality:      British
 
FateDamaged by U-100 (Joachim Schepke)
Position57° 55'N, 11° 10'W - Grid AM 2919
Complement34 (0 dead and 34 survivors).
ConvoySC-7 (straggler)
RouteRimouski, Quebec - Sydney, CB - Grangemouth 
Cargo1798 standards of timber 
History Completed in October 1929

Post-war:
In 1946 the Empire Spey was returned to her pre-war owner and renamed Blairspey. 1961 renamed Evandros under Lebanese flag for Marfuente Cia Nav SA (J.P. Hadoulis), Panama. Broken up in La Spezia in May 1967. 
Notes on event

At 23.08 hours on 18 October 1940 U-101 (Frauenheim) attacked convoy SC-7 east-northeast of Rockall and claimed two ships with 9500 grt sunk and one with 6000 grt damaged. According to Allied sources only the Blairspey (Master J.C. Walker) was hit by one or two torpedoes at this time and fell behind convoy. At 02.50 hours on 19 October 1940 the now straggling Blairspey was hit by two torpedoes from U-100, but the badly damaged ship remained afloat because her load of timber and was saved.

The Blairspey was not repaired until 1942, when she was rebuilt with a new forepart for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), but still managed by her old owner and renamed Empire Spey.

 

Attack entries for Blairspey

DateU-boatCommanderLoss typeTonsNat.
18 Oct 1940U-101Kptlt. Fritz FrauenheimDamaged4,155  
19 Oct 1940U-100Kptlt. Joachim SchepkeDamaged4,155  


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