Ships hit by U-boats


Kars

British Motor tanker



The afterpart of the Kars lying beached near Halifax

NameKars
Type:Motor tanker
Tonnage8,888 tons
Completed1939 - Blythswood Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Glasgow 
OwnerWestern Oil Shipping Co Ltd (Baltic Trading Co), London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack22 Feb 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateA total loss by U-96 (Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock)
Position44° 15'N, 63° 25'W - Grid BB 7557
Complement47 (46 dead and 1 survivor).
Convoy
RouteTrinidad (13 Feb) - Halifax - Belfast 
Cargo12,700 tons of aviation spirit and fuel oil 
History Completed in March 1939 
Notes on event

At 22.57 hours on 22 February 1942 the unescorted Kars (Master Arthur Falconer) was hit by one G7e torpedo from U-96 about 25 miles south-southeast of Halifax, Nova Scotia. The ship caught fire and broke in two three days later. The forepart sank and the afterpart was towed to Halifax, where it was beached on 27 February and declared at total loss. The master, 39 crew members and five gunners were lost. Two crew members were picked up by HMCS Melville (J 263) (T/Lt R.T. Ingram, RCNR) and taken to Halifax, but one of them died after being rescued.

 
On boardWe have details of 47 people who were on board


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