Ships hit by U-boats


Eastlea

British Steam merchant


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NameEastlea
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage4,267 tons
Completed1924 - Sir John Priestman & Co Ltd, Southwick, Sunderland 
OwnerJohn Morrison & Son, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 
HomeportNewcastle 
Date of attack24 Mar 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-106 (Jürgen Oesten)
Position16° 18'N, 22° 05'W - Grid EJ 1425
Complement37 (37 dead - no survivors)
Convoy
RouteFamagusta, Cyprus - Table Bay - Freetown - St.Vincent, Cape Verde (23 Mar) - Newport News 
CargoCotton seed 
History  
Notes on event

On 30 March 1941 the Eastlea (Master Malcolm Goudie Macpherson) was reported missing in the North Atlantic. The master, 33 crew members and three gunners were lost.

At 22.58 hours on 24 March, U-106 had observed one hit amidships on a steamer running north from a distance of 600 yards. The ship broke her back and sank within ten minutes about 130 miles west-northwest of San Antonia, Cape Verde Islands.
For some time the vessel concerned was thought to have been the Brazilian steam merchant Santa Clara (2512 tons), but this ship radioed an SOS message on 14 March from 30°48N/68°42W following an explosion. The ship actually hit and sunk was more likely the Eastlea.

 
On boardWe have details of 36 people who were on board


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