Ships hit by U-boats


Estrellano

British Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of the Allen Collection

NameEstrellano
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage1,983 tons
Completed1920 - Hall, Russell & Co Ltd, Aberdeen 
OwnerEllerman & Papayanni Lines Ltd, Liverpool 
HomeportLiverpool 
Date of attack9 Feb 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-37 (Asmus Nicolai Clausen)
Position35° 53'N, 13° 13'W - Grid CG 7555
Complement27 (6 dead and 21 survivors).
ConvoyHG-53
RouteLeixoes - Liverpool 
Cargo900 tons of general cargo and 1100 tons of canned fish 
History Completed in November 1920 
Notes on event

At 04.30 hours on 9 Feb 1941, U-37 fired two G7a torpedoes at two ships in convoy HG-53 about 160 miles southwest of Cape St. Vincent and sank both ships, Courland and Estrellano. At 05.00 hours, one G7e torpedo was fired, but it missed the ships in station #61 and #31 and did not hit a ship beyond them, as Clausen thought.

Five crew members from Estrellano (Master Fred Bird) were lost. The master, 20 crew members and one gunner were picked up by HMS Deptford (L 53) (LtCdr G.A. Thring, DSO, RN) and landed at Liverpool. One crew member died of wounds aboard the sloop and was buried at sea on 10 February.

 
On boardWe have details of 10 people who were on board


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