Ships hit by U-boats


City of Mandalay

British Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of the Allen Collection

NameCity of Mandalay
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage7,028 tons
Completed1925 - Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend, Sunderland 
OwnerEllerman Lines Ltd, London 
HomeportGlasgow 
Date of attack17 Oct 1939Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-46 (Herbert Sohler)
Position44° 57'N, 13° 36'W - Grid BE 9169
Complement85 (7 dead and 78 survivors).
ConvoyHG-3
RouteSaigon - Singapore - Port Swettenham - India - Le Havre - Dunkirk - London - Glasgow 
CargoGeneral cargo, including tea, rubber and sago 
History Completed in January 1925 
Notes on event

At 08.00 hours on 17 October 1939, U-46 attacked the Yorkshire in the unescorted convoy HG-3 with four rounds from her 8.8cm gun, no hits were scored and as the vessel fired back the U-boat dived.
At 16.30 hours, U-46 heard a detonation, this was the hit on the Yorkshire by U-37 (Hartmann). 20 minutes later U-46 fired a G7e torpedo at the City of Mandalay, observed a hit amidships in the engine room and saw the ship listing. A second torpedo fired at 17.00 hours detonated prematurely.

The City of Mandalay (Master Alexander Graham Melville) sank a short time later 360 miles west-northwest of Cape Finisterre. Seven crew members were lost. 78 crew members and passengers were picked up by the American steam merchant Independence Hall and landed at Bordeaux.

 
On boardWe have details of 9 people who were on board


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