Ships hit by U-boats


Longtaker

Panamanian Steam merchant



Longtaker under her former name Sessa. Photo courtesy of Danish Maritime Museum, Elsinore

NameLongtaker
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage1,700 tons
Completed1936 - Helsingørs Jernskibs-og Maskinbyggeri A/S, Elsinore 
OwnerUS Maritime Commission, Washington DC 
HomeportPanama 
Date of attack18 Aug 1941Nationality:      Panamanian
 
FateSunk by U-38 (Heinrich Schuch)
Position61° 26'N, 30° 50'W - Grid AD 7969
Complement27 (24 dead and 3 survivors).
Convoy
RouteUSA - Reykjavik 
CargoTimber and food stuffs 
History Completed in June 1936 as Danish Sessa for A/S D/S Vesterhavet (J. Lauritzen), Esbjerg. In April 1940 laid up in New York. On 2 Aug 1941 taken over by US Maritime Commission, renamed Longtaker and registered in Panama. 
Notes on event

At 02.50 hours on 18 Aug 1941 the unescorted Longtaker (Master N. Nielsen) was hit in the bow and amidships by two torpedoes from U-38 and sank within one minute. Six crew members survived, but three of them died before being picked up by USS Lansdale (DD 426) on 5 September.

 
On boardWe have details of 24 people who were on board


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