Ships hit by U-boats


Steel Age

American Steam merchant



Photo from City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 447-2714

NameSteel Age
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage6,188 tons
Completed1920 - Federal Shipbuilding Co, Kearny NJ 
OwnerIsthmian SS Co, New York 
HomeportNew York 
Date of attack7 Mar 1942Nationality:      American
 
FateSunk by U-129 (Asmus Nicolai Clausen)
Position6° 45'N, 53° 15'W - Grid EO 6625
Complement35 (34 dead and 1 survivor).
Convoy
RouteCalcutta (18 Jan) - Table Bay - Trinidad - New Orleans 
CargoManganese ore 
History Completed in February 1920 
Notes on event

At 03.20 hours on 7 March 1942 the unescorted and unarmed Steel Age (Master Ralph Jones) was hit on the starboard side by two G7a torpedoes from U-129 about 130 miles northeast of Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana. The first torpedo hit amidships and the second between the #4 and #5 hatches, causing the ship to sink by the bow within two minutes. Eight officers and 25 crew members were lost. The sole survivor, an able seaman, jumped on a nearby life raft and was picked up by the U-boat after 20 minutes. He was landed at Lorient on 5 April and taken to the POW camp Marlag und Milag Nord near Bremen.

 
On boardWe have details of 35 people who were on board


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