Ships hit by U-boats


Otterpool

British Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of Paul Johnson Collection

NameOtterpool
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage4,876 tons
Completed1926 - W. Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool 
OwnerSir R. Ropner & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool 
HomeportWest Hartlepool 
Date of attack20 Jun 1940Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-30 (Fritz-Julius Lemp)
Position48° 45'N, 8° 13'W - Grid BF 1946
Complement39 (23 dead and 16 survivors).
ConvoyHG-34F
RouteBona - Middlesbrough 
Cargo8180 tons of iron ore 
History Completed in July 1926 
Notes on event

At 21.42 hours on 20 June 1940 the Otterpool (Master Thomas Prince) in convoy HG-34F was hit by one stern torpedo from U-30 and sank about 130 miles west of Ushant. The master, 21 crew members and one gunner were lost. 16 crew members were picked up by HMS Scarborough (L 25) (Cdr C.T. Addis, RN) and landed at Liverpool.

The Otterpool and another vessel of the same convoy had been missed during an attack by the same U-boat earlier that day. She was also missed by an attack from U-51 (Knorr) at 15.33 hours on 20 June. The U-boat had reported two explosions, but saw no other effects on two ships due to bad visibility. In fact, the Andalusian and the Otterpool were missed. According to the xB-Dienst reports, the BdU assumed that there had been hits on the Fellside (misidentification of Andalusian) and the Otterpool.

 
On boardWe have details of 23 people who were on board


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