Ships hit by U-boats


Athelmonarch

British Motor tanker



Photo courtesy of the Allen Collection

NameAthelmonarch
Type:Motor tanker
Tonnage8,995 tons
Completed1928 - William Hamilton & Co Ltd, Port Glasgow 
OwnerUnited Molasses Co Ltd, London 
HomeportLiverpool 
Date of attack15 Jun 1943Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-97 (Hans-Georg Trox)
Position32° 20'N, 34° 39'E - Grid CP 59
Complement51 (4 dead and 47 survivors).
Convoy
RouteBeirut, Lebanon (15 Jun) - Alexandria 
Cargo13,600 tons of Admiralty fuel oil 
History

Completed in April 1928

At 02.04 hours on 20 Oct 1940, the Athelmonarch (Master Thomas James Donovan) in convoy HX-79 was hit and damaged by one torpedo from U-47 (Prien) in position 56°45N/15°58W. The tanker was en route from Santiago de Cuba to Liverpool via Bermuda with a cargo of 13,146 tons of molasses. No casualties in the crew of 41. She arrived at the Clyde on 23 October, was repaired in Liverpool and returned to service in July 1941.

 
Notes on event

At 14.30 hours on 15 June 1943 the Athelmonarch (Master Robert John Roberts), escorted by RHS Aetos (D 01), was torpedoed and sunk by U-97 northwest of Jaffa, Palestine. Four crew members were lost. The master, 35 crew members and eleven gunners were picked up by the destroyer and landed at Beirut.

 
On boardWe have details of 5 people who were on board

Attack entries for Athelmonarch

DateU-boatCommanderLoss typeTonsNat.
20 Oct 1940U-47Kptlt. Günther PrienDamaged8,995  
15 Jun 1943U-97Kptlt. Hans-Georg TroxSunk8,995  


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