Ships hit by U-boats


Anadara

British Motor tanker



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameAnadara
Type:Motor tanker
Tonnage8,009 tons
Completed1935 - Harland & Wolff Ltd, Govan, Glasgow 
OwnerAnglo-Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack24 Feb 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-587 (Ulrich Borcherdt)
Position43° 57'N, 44° 45'W - Grid BC 8590
Complement62 (62 dead - no survivors)
ConvoyONS-67 (straggler)
RouteHeysham (9 Feb) - Clyde (14 Feb) - Halifax - Curaçao 
CargoBallast 
History Completed in February 1935

At 21.53 hours on 30 Aug 1940, the Anadara in convoy OB-205 was torpedoed and damaged by U-59 (Matz) in position 56°15N/09°10W. The ship was en route from Liverpool to Corpus Christi in ballast. There were no casualties. The tanker was towed to the Clyde by HMS Schelde (W 156), later to Falmouth where she was repaired and returned to service in May 1941. 
Notes on event

At 09.50 hours on 24 Feb 1942, U-558 (Krech) fired three torpedoes at convoy ONS-67 east of Halifax in 43°45N/43°15W and observed three hits. Two ships stopped, the third continued on. The description of the target and the extremely large hole in the tanker´s side make it certain that not only the first torpedo but the third one too hit the Anadara. The second torpedo may have been aimed at the Empire Celt, which continued on her way, but the ship which was sighted with engines stopped was, according to the position given, the Eidanger.
In the morning, U-587 attempted to finish off a tanker behind convoy with a torpedo and gunfire, leaving it in sinking condition. The description of the target confirms that it was the Anadara.

The master, 53 crew members and eight gunners from the Anadara (Master William Thomas Walmsley) were lost.

 
On boardWe have details of 63 people who were on board

Attack entries for Anadara

DateU-boatCommanderLoss typeTonsNat.
30 Aug 1940U-59Kptlt. Joachim MatzDamaged8,009  
24 Feb 1942U-558Kptlt. Günther KrechDamaged8,009  
24 Feb 1942U-587Kptlt. Ulrich BorcherdtSunk8,009  


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