Ships hit by U-boats


Saranac

British Steam tanker



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameSaranac
Type:Steam tanker
Tonnage12,049 tons
Completed1918 - Palmers Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Hebburn-on-Tyne 
OwnerAnglo-American Oil Co Ltd, London 
HomeportNewcastle 
Date of attack25 Jun 1940Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-51 (Dietrich Knorr)
Position48° 24'N, 15° 05'W - Grid BE 3783
Complement44 (4 dead and 40 survivors).
ConvoyOA-172
RouteFawley - Aruba 
CargoBallast 
History Completed in May 1918 
Notes on event

At 15.51 hours on 25 Jun 1940 the Saranac (Master Vernon Horace Alcock) in convoy OA-172 was hit by one torpedo from U-51 about 270 miles west-southwest of Lands End and was immediately abandoned by the crew. At 17.37 hours, the U-boat surfaced and tried to sink the tanker by gunfire, but she sank 15 minutes after being hit by a coup de grĂ¢ce at 19.15 hours. Four crew members were lost. The master and 30 crew members were picked up by HMS Hurricane (H 06) (LtCdr H.C. Simms, RN) and landed at Plymouth. Nine crew members were picked up by the British trawler Caliph and landed at Berehaven, Co. Cork.

 
On boardWe have details of 6 people who were on board


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