Ships hit by U-boats


Pacific Grove

British Motor merchant



Photo courtesy of State Library of New South Wales

NamePacific Grove
Type:Motor merchant
Tonnage7,117 tons
Completed1928 - Deutsche Werke AG, Kiel 
OwnerFurness, Withy & Co Ltd, Liverpool 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack12 Apr 1943Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-563 (Götz von Hartmann)
Position54° 10'N, 30° 00'W - Grid AK 6721
Complement67 (11 dead and 56 survivors).
ConvoyHX-232
RouteNew York (1 Apr) - Halifax - Glasgow 
Cargo8684 tons of general cargo, including diesel oil 
History Completed in April 1928 
Notes on event

Between 04.38 and 04.46 hours on 12 April 1943, U-563 (von Hartmann) fired torpedoes at convoy HX-232 southeast of Cape Farewell and reported three ships sunk and one damaged. The Pacific Grove and Ulysses were sunk and the Fresno City was damaged (later finished off by U-706). At 08.42 hours, U-168 (Pich) observed a burning tanker and U-706 (Zitzewitz) reported a burning vessel being sunk by an escort vessel, probably one of the ships hit by U-563.

Ten crew members and one gunner from the Pacific Grove (Master Evan William Pritchard) were lost. The master, 38 crew members, one gunner and 16 passengers were picked up by HMS Azalea (K 25) (Lt G.C. Geddes, RNR) and landed at Gourock.

 
On boardWe have details of 12 people who were on board


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