Ships hit by U-boats


Coamo

American Steam passenger ship



NameCoamo
Type:Steam passenger ship
Tonnage7,057 tons
Completed1925 - Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co, Newport News VA 
OwnerAgwilines Inc, New York 
HomeportNew York 
Date of attack2 Dec 1942Nationality:      American
 
FateSunk by U-604 (Horst Höltring)
Position48° 45'N, 23° 30'W - Grid BE 1739
Complement186 (186 dead - no survivors)
ConvoyMKF-3 (dispersed)
RouteGibraltar (26 Nov) - New York 
Cargo 
History In January 1942 time chartered as US Army transport.  
Notes on event

On 1 Dec 1942 the Coamo (Master Nels Helgesen) left convoy MKF-3 about 150 miles west of Ireland on orders of the British Admiralty and proceeded independently.

At 20.18 hours on 2 Dec 1942 U-604 fired one torpedo from 800 yards at the Coamo, which was proceeding at 17.5 knots. The torpedo struck under the bridge and caused her to sink in about five minutes. The ship had eleven officers, 122 crewmen, 37 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 4in, two 3in and six 20mm guns) and 16 US Army passengers on board. A few men were seen leaving the ship on rafts but they were likely killed in the gale that swept the area for three days beginning on 3 December.

This was the greatest single loss of a merchant crew on any US Flag merchant vessel during the Second World War.

 
On boardWe have details of 186 people who were on board


If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.

Return to Allied Ships hit by U-boats