Ships hit by U-boats


Athelsultan

British Motor tanker



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameAthelsultan
Type:Motor tanker
Tonnage8,882 tons
Completed1929 - William Hamilton & Co Ltd, Port Glasgow 
OwnerUnited Molasses Co Ltd, London 
HomeportLiverpool 
Date of attack23 Sep 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-617 (Albrecht Brandi)
Position58° 42'N, 33° 38'W - Grid AK 2565
Complement61 (51 dead and 10 survivors).
ConvoySC-100
RoutePort Everglades, Florida - Halifax (12 Sep) - Liverpool 
Cargo13,250 tons of molasses and alcohol 
History Completed in November 1929 
Notes on event

At 00.19 hours on 23 September 1942 the Athelsultan (Master James Dominic Donovan), the ship of convoy commodore in convoy SC-100, was torpedoed and sunk by U-617 southeast of Cape Farewell. The commodore (Capt N.H. Gale, DSO, RD, RNR), six naval staff members, 35 crew members, seven gunners and two passengers (DBS) were lost. The master and two crew members were picked up by HMCS Weyburn (K 173) (T/A/LtCdr T.M.W. Golby, RCNR) and seven crew members by HMS Nasturtium (K 107) (Lt C.D. Smith, DSC, RNR) and landed at Londonderry.

The master James Dominic Donovan was awarded the Lloyds War Medal for bravery at sea.

 
On boardWe have details of 55 people who were on board


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