General Discussions
This is the place to discuss general issues related to the U-boat war or the war at sea in WWII.
Attack on HG-73, 26th / 27th September 1941
Posted by:
Mark McShane
()
Date: May 12, 2009 07:06PM
John,
Interesting that you brought this up, here's what I have found.
26th
2335
U-124 fires at a ship last in column, which sinks quickly. SIREMALM (pdt 23) was the last ship in the outer port column, column 1 had been already destroyed (PETREL, CORTES, LAPWING). SIREMALM was carrying a cargo of iron ore, which would also account for the fast sinking time witnessed by Mohr.
An Admiralty convoy report states that at 2235(Z+1) the SIREMALM was sunk, HMS HIBISCUS was sent to pick up survivors.
These events are also described by the CO of SPRINGBANK. He states that at approx 2300(Z+1) a ship in the port wing column was sunk. SPRINGBANK then took up station between column's 4 & 6. The only ship remaning from column 5 at this time is CERVANTES (pdt 53).
27th
0209
Schness commences his attacks, firing 5 torpedoes. At 0113(Z+1) CO of SPRINGBANK states that the LEADGATE (pdt 41) is hit by a torpedo and immediately afterwards a wake was sighted about 1.5 cables on the port bow passing between LEADGATE and his ship. SPRINGBANK is then hit by 2 torpedoes. It would appear then that the other ship hit was CERVANTES.
21 31 41 61 71
S
22 32 42 P 62
23 33 43 53 63
From the above Schnee fired his volley from the front, the spread would have taken in LEADGATE (41), SPRINGBANK(SP) & CERVANTES (53). I do not have the survivors report at hand today, but tomorrow it should be able to tell where CERVANTES took station that night and how many torpedo hits she sustained. With 2 hitting SPRINGABNK and 1 passing ahead that accounts for three. Although there is no record of LEADGATE being damaged in any convoy reports, she did go in for repairs for sometime after she arrived back in England. That torp hit or premature explosion would account for 4.
Hope the above makes sense.
Regards,
Mark
Interesting that you brought this up, here's what I have found.
26th
2335
U-124 fires at a ship last in column, which sinks quickly. SIREMALM (pdt 23) was the last ship in the outer port column, column 1 had been already destroyed (PETREL, CORTES, LAPWING). SIREMALM was carrying a cargo of iron ore, which would also account for the fast sinking time witnessed by Mohr.
An Admiralty convoy report states that at 2235(Z+1) the SIREMALM was sunk, HMS HIBISCUS was sent to pick up survivors.
These events are also described by the CO of SPRINGBANK. He states that at approx 2300(Z+1) a ship in the port wing column was sunk. SPRINGBANK then took up station between column's 4 & 6. The only ship remaning from column 5 at this time is CERVANTES (pdt 53).
27th
0209
Schness commences his attacks, firing 5 torpedoes. At 0113(Z+1) CO of SPRINGBANK states that the LEADGATE (pdt 41) is hit by a torpedo and immediately afterwards a wake was sighted about 1.5 cables on the port bow passing between LEADGATE and his ship. SPRINGBANK is then hit by 2 torpedoes. It would appear then that the other ship hit was CERVANTES.
21 31 41 61 71
S
22 32 42 P 62
23 33 43 53 63
From the above Schnee fired his volley from the front, the spread would have taken in LEADGATE (41), SPRINGBANK(SP) & CERVANTES (53). I do not have the survivors report at hand today, but tomorrow it should be able to tell where CERVANTES took station that night and how many torpedo hits she sustained. With 2 hitting SPRINGABNK and 1 passing ahead that accounts for three. Although there is no record of LEADGATE being damaged in any convoy reports, she did go in for repairs for sometime after she arrived back in England. That torp hit or premature explosion would account for 4.
Hope the above makes sense.
Regards,
Mark
