Ships hit by U-boats


City of Guildford

British Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of State Library of New South Wales

NameCity of Guildford
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage5,157 tons
Completed1919 - W. Gray & Co (1918) Ltd, West Hartlepool 
OwnerEllerman Lines Ltd, London 
HomeportLiverpool 
Date of attack27 Mar 1943Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-593 (Gerd Kelbling)
Position33° 00'N, 22° 50'E - Grid CO 5811
Complement142 (129 dead and 13 survivors).
ConvoyXT-7
RouteAlexandria (25 Mar) - Tripoli 
Cargo9000 tons of general cargo, including cased octane spirit and ammunition 
History Laid down as War Midge for The Shipping Controller, completed in June 1919 as Romeo for Ellerman’s Hall Line, Liverpool. 1928 renamed City of Guildford for Ellerman Lines Ltd, London. 
Notes on event

At 15.24 hours on 27 March 1943, U-593 fired a spread of four torpedoes at convoy XT-7 off Derna and heard three detonations after 3 minutes 40 seconds followed by loud sinking noises. Kelbling thought that he had scored hits on two ships, but in fact only the City of Guildford (Master Clifford Collard) was hit and sunk. 70 crew members, 11 gunners and 48 army personnel were lost. The master, six crew members, one gunner and five army personnel were picked up by HMS Exmoor (L 08) (Lt D.T. McBarnet, RN) and landed at Benghazi.

 
On boardWe have details of 79 people who were on board


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