Primrose Hill
British Catapult armed merchant
We don't have a picture of this vessel at this time.
| Name | Primrose Hill | ||
| Type: | Catapult armed merchant (CAM) | ||
| Tonnage | 7,628 tons | ||
| Completed | 1941 - William Hamilton & Co Ltd, Port Glasgow | ||
| Owner | Counties Ship Management Co Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 29 Oct 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by UD-5 (Bruno Mahn) | ||
| Position | 18° 58'N, 28° 40'W - Grid DS 9835 | ||
| Complement | 49 (3 dead and 46 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | ON-139 (dispersed) | ||
| Route | Glasgow (16 Oct) - Takoradi - Apapa | ||
| Cargo | 3000 tons of coal and 1796 tons of general cargo, including war material and 11 aircraft | ||
| History | Completed in September 1941 | ||
| Notes on event | At 21.18 hours on 29 Oct 1942 the Primrose Hill (Master Maxwell Dunnett Mackenzie), dispersed from convoy ON-139, was hit by one of two torpedoes fired by UD-5 northwest of the Cape Verde Islands. The torpedo struck in the stern, set the ship on fire immediately and killed three crew members. The survivors abandoned ship in four lifeboats and were questioned by the Germans. They told them that all officers were killed in the explosion but this was apparently not true. The U-boat then fired at 22.46 hours a coup de grâce that hit near the bridge and at 23.13 hours another one that hit in the stern, broke her in two and caused her to sink at 23.45 hours. The master, 37 crew members and eight gunners were picked up by the British motor merchant Sansu and landed at Freetown. | ||
| On board | We have details of 8 people who were on board. | ||
If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.