Ships hit by U-boats


HMCS Spikenard (K 198)

Canadian Corvette



Photo from Department of National Defence of Canada #MC-2975

NameHMCS Spikenard (K 198)
Type:Corvette (Flower)
Tonnage925 tons
Completed1940 - Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co Ltd, Lauzon PQ 
OwnerRoyal Canadian Navy 
Homeport 
Date of attack11 Feb 1942Nationality:      Canadian
 
FateSunk by U-136 (Heinrich Zimmermann)
Position56° 10'N, 21° 07'W - Grid AL 5235
Complement65 officers and men (57 dead and 8 survivors).
ConvoySC-67
RouteHalifax - Liverpool 
Cargo 
History Ordered for the Royal Navy, but commissioned in December 1940 as HMCS Spikenard (K 198) in the Royal Canadian Navy. The corvette made a transatlantic voyage, escorting the convoy HX-104 to the UK in January 1941, to complete fitting out at South Shields. She finally entered service in May 1941 and joined Newfoundland Command as ocean escort. 
Notes on event

Between 01.33 and 01.35 hours on 11 Feb 1942, U-136 fired four torpedoes at convoy SC-67 south of Iceland and reported hits on two steamers and on a corvette and later sighted debris and two lifeboats. In fact, the Heina and HMCS Spikenard (K 198) were sunk.

HMCS Spikenard (K 198) (LtCdr H.G. Shadforth, RCNR) was the ship of the senior officer of the escort (SOE) on station off the starboard column ahead of convoy and sank within five minutes after being hit on the port side in the bow near the bridge. Her loss was not noticed by the other ships in the dark night and the search for her only begun during the morning. The commander, four officers and 52 ratings were lost. Eight ratings were picked up from a raft by HMS Gentian (K 90) (Lt F.M. Osborne, DSC, RANVR) about 19 hours after the sinking.

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 59 people who were on board


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Media links


U-Boat Attack Logs

Daniel Morgan and Bruce Taylor


amazon.co.uk
(£ 38.25)

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