Collegian
British Steam merchant
Collegian under her former name Royal Prince. Photo courtesy of Clive Ketley
| Name | Collegian | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 7,886 tons | ||
| Completed | 1923 - Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill, Middlesbrough | ||
| Owner | T. & J. Harrison, Liverpool | ||
| Homeport | Liverpool | ||
| Date of attack | 22 Sep 1940 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Damaged by U-32 (Hans Jenisch) | ||
| Position | 55° 14'N, 16° 40'W - Grid AL 6626 | ||
| Complement | 56 (0 dead and 56 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | HX-72 (straggler) | ||
| Route | New Orleans (1 Sep) - Bermuda - Belfast | ||
| Cargo | 8000 tons of general cargo, including 890 tons of TNT, cotton, steel and lumber | ||
| History | Completed in January 1923 as London Commerce for Furness, Withy & Co Ltd, Liverpool. 1929 renamed Royal Prince for the same owner. 1935 renamed Collegian for T. & J. Harrison, Liverpool. Post-war: Broken up at Milford Haven in February 1948. | ||
| Notes on event | At 06.09 hours on 22 September 1940 the unescorted Collegian (Master W. Rowberry), a straggler from convoy HX-72, was missed by a torpedo from U-32 about 320 miles west of Malin Head. At 07.40 hours the U-boat surfaced and opened fire with the deck gun from a distance of 6500 meters. The Germans scored three hits, but had to break off the attack due to the accurate return fire from the 4.7" stern gun of the vessel. No casualties among the crew of 47 men and nine passengers (DBS). HMS Lowestoft (L 59) (Cdr A.M. Knapp, RN) and HMS Heartsease (K 15) (LtCdr E.J.R. North, RNR) escorted the Collegian to Belfast, arriving on 23 September. The ship was repaired and returned to service in November 1940. | ||
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