Ships hit by U-boats


HMS Arbutus (K 86)

British Corvette



NameHMS Arbutus (K 86)
Type:Corvette (Flower)
Tonnage925 tons
Completed1940 - Blyth Shipbuilding & Dry Docks Co Ltd, Blyth 
OwnerThe Admiralty 
Homeport 
Date of attack5 Feb 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-136 (Heinrich Zimmermann)
Position55° 05'N, 19° 43'W - Grid AL 6146
Complement75 officers and men (43 dead and 32 survivors).
ConvoyON-63
Route 
Cargo 
History Completed in October 1940 
Notes on event

At 22.36 hours on 5 Februar 1942 U-136 fired a spread of three torpedoes at HMS Arbutus (K 86) (T/Lt A.L.W. Warren, DSC, RNR), which was escorting convoy ON-63 about 340 miles west-northwest of Erris Head, Ireland. The corvette was hit on the starboard side abreast the forward bulkhead of No. 1 boiler by one torpedo and sank immediately after breaking in two. The commander, three officers and 38 ratings were lost. 33 survivors were picked up by HMS Chelsea (I 35) (LtCdr A.F.C. Layard, RN) within two hours after the attack. Nine of them were in critical condition and one of whom succumbed during the night. The destroyer immediately proceeded to Londonderry to land the injured men there on 7 February and then landed the remaining survivors at Liverpool on 9 February.

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 46 people who were on board


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Media links


U-Boat Attack Logs

Daniel Morgan and Bruce Taylor


amazon.co.uk
(£ 38.25)

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