Melmore Head
British Steam merchant
Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart
| Name | Melmore Head | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 5,273 tons | ||
| Completed | 1918 - Workman, Clark & Co Ltd, Belfast | ||
| Owner | Ulster SS Co Ltd (G. Heyn & Sons Ltd), Belfast | ||
| Homeport | Belfast | ||
| Date of attack | 28 Dec 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-225 (Wolfgang Leimkühler) | ||
| Position | 43° 27'N, 27° 15'W - Grid BD 9869 | ||
| Complement | 49 (14 dead and 35 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | ONS-154 | ||
| Route | Newport, Mon. - Belfast Lough (18 Dec) - St.John, New Brunswick | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Ordered as Inishowen Head, laid down as Melmore Head and completed in September 1918. | ||
| Notes on event | At 22.02 hours on 28 Dec 1942, U-225 fired torpedoes at convoy ONS-154 north of the Azores and reported two ships sunk and two others probably sunk. In fact, the Melmore Head in station #113 was hit by two torpedoes and blew up and the stern torpedo hit the Ville de Rouen, which was later finished off by U-662 (Hermann). 13 crew members and one gunner from Melmore Head (Master William John Leinster) were lost. The master, 30 crew members and four gunners were picked up by HMCS Shediac (K 110) (Lt J.E. Clayton, RCNR) and landed at Ponta Delgada, Azores. | ||
| On board | We have details of 18 people who were on board. | ||
If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.