British Premier
British Steam tanker
Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart
| Name | British Premier | ||
| Type: | Steam tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 5,872 tons | ||
| Completed | 1922 - Palmers Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Jarrow | ||
| Owner | British Tanker Co Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 24 Dec 1940 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-65 (Hans-Gerrit von Stockhausen) | ||
| Position | 6° 20'N, 13° 20'W - Grid ET 2661 | ||
| Complement | 45 (32 dead and 13 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | SLS-60 (straggler) | ||
| Route | Abadan - Freetown (22 Dec) - Swansea | ||
| Cargo | 8000 tons of crude oil | ||
| History | Completed in December 1922 | ||
| Notes on event | At 16.41 hours on 24 Dec 1940 the British Premier (Master Francis Dalziel), a straggler from convoy SLS-60, was hit by two G7a torpedoes from U-65 and sank 200 miles southwest of Freetown. The master, 30 crew members and one gunner were lost. Nine crew members were picked up on 3 Jan 1941, by HMS Hawkins (I 86) (Capt H.P.K. Oram, RN) and landed at Freetown. On 3 Feb 1941, four surviors were picked up after 41 days in an open boat (25 days without food) by HMS Faulknor (H 62) (Capt A.F. de Salis, RN) off the west coast of Africa and landed at Freetown. | ||
| On board | We have details of 36 people who were on board. | ||
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