Essex Lance
British Steam merchant
Essex Lance under her former name War Courage. Photo courtesy of Allan C. Green Collection
| Name | Essex Lance | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 6,625 tons | ||
| Completed | 1918 - Sir W.G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Co Ltd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne | ||
| Owner | Meldrum & Swinson Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 15 Oct 1943 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-426 (Christian Reich) | ||
| Position | 57° 53'N, 28° 00'W - Grid AK 3739 | ||
| Complement | 52 (0 dead and 52 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | ONS-20 (straggler) | ||
| Route | Swansea - Milford Haven (8 Oct) - Halifax | ||
| Cargo | 4000 tons of anthracite | ||
| History | Completed in October 1918 as War Courage for The Shipping Controller, managed by Lowden, Connell & Co, Liverpool. 1919 renamed Glensanda for Glen Line Ltd, London. 1928 renamed Essex Lance for Meldrum & Swinson Ltd, London. At 12.00 hours on 16 Sep 1942, U-165 (Hoffmann) attacked the convoy SQ-36 in 49°03N/67°08W, sank the Joannis and damaged the Essex Lance and Pan York. The Essex Lance had been en route in ballast from London to Montreal. One crew member was lost. On 22 September, the ship arrived at Quebec in tow, was repaired and returned to service in May 1943. | ||
| Notes on event | At 22.48 hours on 15 Oct 1943 the unescorted Essex Lance (Master Arthur Henry Dean), a straggler from convoy ONS-20, was hit by one of three torpedoes from U-426 and sank in flames about 408 miles east of Cape Farewell. Earlier U-842 (Heller) reported that they had sighted the Essex Lance, but were unable to attack the ship. The master, 43 crew members and eight gunners were picked up by the British rescue ship Accrington and landed at Halifax on 26 October. | ||
| On board | We have details of 2 people who were on board. | ||
Attack entries for Essex Lance
| Date | U-boat | Commander | Loss type | Tons | Nat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Sep 1942 | U-165 | FrgKpt. Eberhard Hoffmann | Damaged | 6,625 | |
| 15 Oct 1943 | U-426 | Kptlt. Christian Reich | Sunk | 6,625 | |
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