Overview
4
U-boats were sunk by Allied warships.
58
Allied or neutral merchant
ships were sunk by U-boats totaling 301,620 tons.4
Allied merchant
ships were damaged by U-boats totaling 31,026 tons.
Naval Action in the Atlantic OceanFourteen
Beaufighters of Nos. 22 and 42 Squadrons departed from bases in Scotland
and torpedoed the German battleship Lutzow which had been sighted off
the Norwegian coast by a No. 114 Squadron Blenheim. The Lutzow returned
to port at Kiel for repairs and would not return to service until
January 1942.The
battleship USS Texas (BB 35) and destroyers USS Mayrant (DD 402), USS
Rhind (DD 404), and USS Trippe (DD 403) were sighted by the U-203 within
what the German navy regarded as the war, or "blockade" zone in the
Atlantic Ocean. The American force, however, unaware of the U-boat,
outdistanced the submarine and frustrated its attempted attack. In the
wake of this incident, the commander in chief of the German navy (Grand
Admiral Erich Raeder) ordered that American warships could only be
attacked if they crossed the western boundary of the blockade area by 20
or more miles, or within the 20-mile strip along the western edge of the
blockade zone.
U-Boat LossesThe
U-147, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Eberhard Wetjen, was sunk
northwest of Ireland
in
the northern Atlantic Ocean by depth charges from the destroyer HMS Wanderer (D
74) and the corvette HMS Periwinkle (K 55).
The U-147 had just torpedoed and damaged the
Belgian motor merchant Mokambo. All of the ship’s complement
of 26 died. During its career the U-147 sank 2 ships for a total of
6,145 tons, damaged 1 ship for a total of 4,996 tons, and damaged
irreparably 1 ship for a total of 2,491 tons.The
U-138, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Franz Gramitzky, was sunk west
of Cadiz, Spain
in the eastern Atlantic Ocean by depth charges from the
destroyers HMS Faulknor (H 62), HMS Fearless (H 67), HMS Forester (H
74), HMS Foresight (H 68), and HMS Foxhound (H 69). Of the ship’s
complement, all 27 survived. During its career the U-138 sank 6 ships
for a total of 48,564 tons and damaged 1 ship for a total of 6,993 tons.The
U-556, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Herbert Wohlfarth, was sunk
southwest of Iceland in the North Atlantic Ocean by depth charges from
the corvettes HMS Nasturtium (K 107), HMS Celandine (K 75), and HMS
Gladiolus (K 34). Of the ship’s complement, 5 died and 41 survived. Kapitänleutnant Wohlfarth
was among the survivors and was considered one of Germany’s top U-boat
aces During its career the U-556 sank 6 ships for a total of 29,552 tons
and damaged 1 ship for a total of 4,986 tons.The
U-651, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Peter Lohmeyer, was sunk south of
Iceland n the North Atlantic Ocean by depth charges from the destroyers
HMS Malcolm (D 19) and HMS Scimitar (H 21), the corvettes HMS Arabis (K
73) and HMS Violet (K 35), and the minesweeper HMS Speedwell (J 87). Of
the ship’s complement, all 45 survived. During its career the U-651 sank
2 ships for a total of 11,639 tons.
Attacks on Allied and Neutral Merchant ShipsDispersed
from Convoy OB-319, the British steam merchant Scottish Monarch was
torpedoed and sunk by the U-105, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Georg
Schewe, southwest of the Cape Verde Islands in the central Atlantic
Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 1 died and 44 survivors were picked up
by the Dutch motor merchant Alphard and the British steam merchant
Christine Marie. The 4,719 ton Scottish Monarch was carrying coal and
was headed for Freetown, Sierra Leone.Dispersed
from Convoy OB-320, the British motor merchant Alfred Jones was
torpedoed and sunk by the U-107, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Günter
Hessler, 140 miles west-southwest of Freetown, Sierra Leone, in the
eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 14 died and 62
survivors were picked up by the corvette HMS Marguerite (K 54). The
5,013 ton Alfred Jones was carrying RAF planes, lorries and steel and
was headed for Bathurst, Gambia.Dispersed
from Convoy OB-327, the British steam merchant Michael E. was torpedoed
and sunk by the U-108, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Klaus Scholtz,
southwest of Cape Clear, Ireland in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Of the
ship’s complement, 3 died and 59 survivors were picked up by the Dutch
motor merchant Alcinous. The 7,628 ton Michael E. was carrying ballast
and was headed for Halifax, Nova Scotia.Sailing
with Convoy OB-329, the Belgian motor merchant Mokambo was torpedoed and
damaged by the U-147, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Eberhard Wetjen,
northwest of Ireland in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, all 47 survived. The 4,996 ton Mokambo was carrying general
cargo and was bound for Freetown, Sierra Leone.
The U-147 would subsequently be sunk by the Mokambo’s escorts.Dispersed
from Convoy OB-327, the Dutch steam merchant Eibergen was torpedoed and
sunk by the U-75, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Helmuth Ringelmann, about
600 miles north of the Azores in the central Atlantic Ocean. Of the
ship’s complement, 4 died and 35 survivors were picked up by a British
destroyer. The 4,801 ton Eibergen was headed for West Africa.
Dispersed
from Convoy OB-327, the British motor tanker Inversuir was torpedoed and
sunk by the U-75 north
of the Azores. Of the ship’s complement,
all 45 survived and were picked up by the Norwegian steam merchant Para.
The 9,456 ton Inversuir was carrying ballast and was headed for Aruba.Dispersed
from Convoy OB-327, the British steam merchant Trecarrell was torpedoed
and sunk by the U-101, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Ernst Mengersen,
west of Cape Race, Newfoundland in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the
ship’s complement, 4 died and 43 survivors were picked up by the British
steam merchant Cornerbrook. The 5,271 ton Trecarrell was carrying
ballast and was headed for Father Point, New Brunswick.The
2,879 ton British suction dredger Robert Hughes struck a mine laid in
the entrance to Lagos Harbor, Nigeria and sank. Of the ship’s complement, 14 died
and 17 survivors were picked up by the harbor craft.Dispersed
from Convoy OB-328, the British motor tanker Wellfield was torpedoed and
sunk by the U-48, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Herbert Schultze,
southeast of Cape Farewell, Greenland in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Of
the ship’s complement, 8 died and 34 survivors were picked up by the
British steam tanker British Ardour. The 6,054 ton Wellfield was
carrying ballast and was headed for Curaçao.Dispersed
from Convoy OB-324, the British steam merchant Sacramento Valley was
torpedoed and sunk by the U-106, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Jürgen
Oesten, west of the Cape Verde Islands in the central Atlantic Ocean. Of
the ship’s complement, 3 died and 46 survivors were picked up by the
Panamanian steam tanker Stanvac Cape Town. The 4,573 ton Sacramento
Valley was carrying coal and was headed for Pernambuco, Brazil.Dispersed
from Convoy OB-328, the Dutch steam merchant Yselhaven was torpedoed and
sunk by the U-43, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Wolfgang Lüth, about 600
miles east of Newfoundland in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, 24 died and 10 survivors were picked up by the Finnish steam
merchant Hammarland. The 4,802 ton Yselhaven was carrying ballast and
was headed for Canada.Dispersed
from Convoy OB-329, the British steam merchant Tregarthen was torpedoed
and sunk by the U-48, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Herbert Schultze,
north-northwest of the Azores in the central Atlantic Ocean. All of the
ship’s complement of 45 died. The 5,201 ton Tregarthen was carrying coal
and was headed for Kingston, Jamaica.Dispersed
from Convoy OB-324, the British steam merchant Elmdene was torpedoed and
sunk by the U-103, commanded by Korvettenkapitän Viktor Schütze, about
200 miles west-southwest of Freetown, Sierra Leone, in the eastern
Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, all 36 survived and were
picked up by the American steam merchant Carlton. The 4,853 ton Elmdene
was carrying coal, munitions, and 20 aircraft and was headed for
Alexandria, Egypt.Dispersed
from Convoy OB-323, the/ British motor passenger ship Adda was torpedoed
and sunk by the U-107, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Günter Hessler,
about 80 miles west-southwest of Freetown, Sierra Leone, in the eastern
Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement and passengers, 10 died and 415
survivors were picked up by the corvette HMS Cyclamen (K 83). The 7,816
ton Adda was carrying general cargo and passengers and was headed for
Lagos, Nigeria.Dispersed
from Convoy OB-328, the British steam merchant Baron Nairn was torpedoed
and sunk by the U-108, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Klaus Scholtz, west
of Cape Race, Newfoundland in the western Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, 1 died and 39 survived. The 3,164 ton Baron Nairn was
carrying ballast and was headed for Nuevitas, Cuba.The
unescorted Greek steam merchant Dirphys was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-108 approximately 600 miles east
of Newfoundland in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, 6 died and 19 survived. The 4,240 ton Dirphys was carrying
anthracite and was headed for Montreal, Canada.The
unescorted British steam merchant Kingston Hill was torpedoed and sunk
by the U-38, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Liebe, southwest of
the Cape Verde Islands in the central Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, 14 died and 48 survivors were picked up by the American
steam tanker Alabama. The 7,628 ton Kingston Hill was carrying coal and
general cargo and was headed for Alexandria, Egypt.Dispersed
from Convoy OB-329, the Dutch motor tanker Pendrecht was torpedoed and
sunk by the U-48, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Herbert Schultze, about
500 miles northwest of the Azores in the central Atlantic Ocean. Of the
ship’s complement, all 36 survived and were picked up by the British
steam merchant Alresford, the submarine HMS Pandora (N 42), and the
American passenger ship Excalibur. The 10,746 ton Pendrecht was carrying
ballast and was headed for New York,
New York.The
unescorted British motor tanker Ensis was torpedoed and damaged by the
U-46, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Engelbert Endrass, southwest of
Iceland in the northern Atlantic Ocean. The 6,207 ton Ensis was carrying
ballast and was bound for Curacao.Dispersed
from Convoy OB-329, the British steam merchant Trevarrack was torpedoed
and sunk by the U-101, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Ernst Mengersen,
southwest of Cape Clear, Ireland in the northern Atlantic Ocean. All of
the ship’s complement of 45 died. The 5,270 ton Trevarrack was carrying
ballast and was headed for Montreal, Canada.Dispersed
from Convoy OB-330, the British steam merchant Phidias was sunk by
gunfire by the U-46, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Engelbert Endrass,
north of the Azores in the central Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, 8 died and 43 survivors were picked up by the British steam
merchant Embassage. The 5,623 ton Phidias was carrying government
stores, including ammunition and 14 aircraft and was headed for Capetown,
South Africa.Dispersed
from Convoy OB-329, the Norwegian steam merchant Christian Krohg was
torpedoed and sunk by the U-108, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Klaus
Scholtz, in the central Atlantic Ocean. All of the ship’s complement of
23 died. The 1,992 ton Christian Krohg was carrying ballast and was
headed for Canada.The
unescorted Belgian steam merchant Mercier was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-204, commanded by Kapitänleutnant U-204, in the northern Atlantic
Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 7 died and 61 survived. The 7,886 ton
Mercier was carrying ballast, mail, and training aircraft as deck cargo
and was headed for Montreal, Canada.The
unescorted British steam merchant Ainderby was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-552, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Erich Topp, 130 miles west by
north of Bloody Foreland, Ireland in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. Of
the ship’s complement, 12 died and 29 survivors were picked up by the
destroyer HMS Veteran (D 72). The 4,860 ton Ainderby was carrying iron
ore and was headed for Tyne, England.The
unescorted Norwegian steam merchant Havtor was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-79, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Wolfgang Kaufmann, in the northern
Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 6 died and 14 survivors were
picked up by the motor fishing vessel Pilot. The 1,524 ton Havtor was
carrying ballast and was headed for Pictou, Nova Scotia.The
British motor merchant Silverpalm was torpedoed and sunk by the U-371,
commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Driver, in the northern Atlantic
Ocean. All of the ship’s complement of 68 died. The 6,373 ton Silverpalm
was carrying general cargo and was headed for Glasgow, Scotland.The
unescorted British steam merchant Empire Dew was torpedoed and sunk by
the U-48, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Herbert Schultze, north of the
Azores in the central Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 23 died
and 19 survivors were picked up by the Norwegian destroyer St. Albans (I
15). The 7,005 ton Empire Dew was carrying ballast and was headed for
Father Point, New Brunswick.The
unescorted British motor merchant Chinese Prince was torpedoed and sunk
by the U-552, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Erich Topp, south of
Rockall in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 45
died and 19 survivors were picked up by the corvettes HMS Arbutus (K 86)
and HMS Pimpernel (K 71). The 8,593 ton Chinese Prince was carrying
general cargo, including potash, currants, and magnesite and was headed
for Liverpool, England.Dispersed
from Convoy OG-64, the Norwegian steam tanker Ranella was torpedoed and
sunk by the U-553, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Karl Thurmann, in the
central Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, all 29 survived and
reached the Azores by lifeboat. The 5,590 ton Ranella was carrying
ballast and was headed for New York,
New York.Dispersed
from Convoy OG-64, the British steam merchant Susan Mærsk was torpedoed
and sunk by the U-553 in
the central Atlantic Ocean. All of the ship’s complement of 24 died. The
2,355 ton Susan Mærsk was carrying ballast and was headed for Curaçao.The
unescorted Greek steam merchant Pandias was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-107, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Günter Hessler, in the southern
Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 11 died and 23 survived. The
4,981 ton Pandias was carrying coal, military goods and 11 Spitfire
fighters and was headed for Alexandria, Egypt.Dispersed
from Convoy OB-330, the British steam merchant Tresillian was torpedoed
and sunk by gunfire by the U-77, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See
Heinrich Schonder, southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland in the western
Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, all 46 survived and were
picked up by the U.S. Coast Guard cutter USS Duane (WPG 33). The 4,743
ton Tresillian was carrying ballast and was headed for Canada.Dispersed
from Convoy OG-64, the British steam merchant St. Lindsay was torpedoed
and sunk by the U-751, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Gerhard Bigalk,
southwest of Iceland in the northern Atlantic Ocean. All of the ship’s
complement of 43 died. The 5,370 ton St. Lindsay was carrying general
cargo and was headed for Buenos Aires, Argentina.Sailing
with Convoy SL-76, the British motor merchant Cathrine was torpedoed and
sunk by the U-43, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Wolfgang Lüth, about 250
miles southwest of Cape Clear, Ireland in the northern Atlantic Ocean.
Of the ship’s complement, 24 died and 3 survivors were picked up by the
British trawler Boreas. The 2,727 ton Cathrine was carrying manganese
ore.The
unescorted British steam merchant Norfolk was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-552, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Erich Topp, about 150 miles
northwest of Malin Head, Ireland in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Of the
ship’s complement, 1 died and 70 survivors were picked up by the
destroyer HMS Skate (H 39). The 10,948 ton Norfolk was carrying general
cargo, including steel plates and mail and was headed for New Zealand.The
unescorted and neutral Portuguese steam merchant Ganda was torpedoed and
sunk by the U-123, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Reinhard Hardegen, off
Casablanca, Morocco in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, 5 died and 61 survived. The 4,333 ton Ganda was carrying
general cargo, including port wine and was headed for Mozambique.The
2,379 ton British weather ship Arakaka was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-77, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Heinrich Schonder, east of St.
Johns, Newfoundland in the western Atlantic Ocean. All of the ship’s
complement of 45 died.Dispersed
from Convoy SL-76, the Swedish steam merchant Calabria was torpedoed and
sunk by the U-141, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Philipp Schüler,
100 miles from Inishtrahull Lightship, Ireland in the northern Atlantic
Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 3 died and 21 survived. The 1,277 ton
Calabria was carrying palm kernels and copra and was headed for Hull,
England.Sailing
with Convoy OB-336, the British motor merchant Kinross was torpedoed and
sunk by the U-203, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Rolf Mützelburg,
southeast of Cape Farewell, Greenland in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Of
the ship’s complement, all 37 survived and were picked up by the
corvette HMCS Orillia (K 119). The 4,956 ton Kinross was carrying
ballast and was headed for Father Point, Canada.Sailing
with Convoy HX-133, the Norwegian motor merchant Soløy was torpedoed and
sunk by the U-203 in the
northern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, all 32 survived and
were picked up by the British steam merchant Traveller. The 4,402 ton
Soløy was carrying wheat and was headed for Hull, England.A
straggler from Convoy HX-133, the Norwegian motor merchant Vigrid was
torpedoed and sunk by the U-371, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinrich
Driver, about 400 miles southeast of Cape Farewell, Greenland in the
northern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 26 died and 21
survivors were picked up by the destroyers HMS Keppel (D 84) and USS
Charles F. Hughes (DD-428). The 4,765 ton Vigrid was carrying general
cargo, including spelter, copper, iron, and steel and was headed for
Manchester, England.Sailing
with Convoy HX-133, the British steam merchant Brockley Hill was
torpedoed and sunk by the U-651, commanded by Peter Lohmeyer, southeast
of Cape Farewell, Greenland in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Of the
ship’s complement, all 42 survived and were picked up by the British
steam merchant Saugor. The 5,297 ton Brockley Hill was carrying grain
and was headed for London, England.Dispersed
from Convoy OG-65, the Greek steam merchant Ellinico was torpedoed and
sunk by the U-108, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Klaus Scholtz, in the
northern Atlantic Ocean. The 3,059 ton Ellinico was headed for Wabana,
Newfoundland.Dispersed
from Convoy OG-65, the Greek steam merchant Pateras was torpedoed and
sunk by the U-108 in the
northern Atlantic Ocean. The 4,362 ton Pateras was carrying ballast and
was headed for Father Point, Canada.A
straggler from Convoy OB-336, the Dutch steam merchant Schie was
torpedoed and sunk by the U-75, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Helmuth
Ringelmann, in the northern Atlantic Ocean. All of the ship’s complement
of 29 died. The 1,967 ton Schie was carrying Ballast and was headed for
Curaçao.The
unescorted Greek steam merchant Anna Bulgaris was torpedoed and sunk by
the U-77, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Schonder, south of Cape
Farewell, Greenland in the northern Atlantic Ocean. The 4,603 ton Anna
Bulgaris was carrying ballast and was headed for Montreal, Canada.Sailing
with Convoy SL-78, the Dutch steam merchant Oberon was torpedoed and
sunk by the U-123, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Reinhard Hardegen,
west-southwest of the Canary Islands in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of
the ship’s complement, 6 died and 28 survivors were picked up by a
British corvette. The 1,996 ton Oberon was carrying palm kernels and
general cargo and was headed for Hull, England.Sailing
with Convoy SL-78, the British steam merchant P.L.M. 22 was torpedoed
and sunk by the U-123
west-southwest of the Canary Islands. Of
the ship’s complement, 32 died and 12 survivors were picked up by the
corvette HMS Armeria (K 187). The 5,646 ton P.L.M. 22 was carrying iron
ore and was headed for Middlesbrough, England.Sailing
with Convoy HX-133, the Dutch steam merchant Maasdam was torpedoed and
sunk by the U-564, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Reinhard Suhren,
approximately 300 miles south of Iceland in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Of the
ship’s complement, 2 died and 78 survivors were picked up by the
Norwegian motor tanker Havprins and another Norwegian vessel.
Among the survivors are U.S. Marines under
Major Walter L. Jordan, USMC, the advance detail for the Marine
Detachment at the American Embassy in London. The 8,812 ton
Maasdam was headed for Liverpool, England.Sailing
with Convoy HX-133, the Dutch steam merchant British motor merchant
Malaya II was torpedoed and sunk by the U-564 approximately 300 miles south of Iceland. Of the ship’s complement, 41 died and 6
survivors were picked up by the corvette HMCS Collingwood (K 180). The
8,651 ton Malaya II was carrying metal, wheat, and TNT and was headed
for Cardiff, Wales.Sailing
with Convoy HX-133, the 9,467 ton Norwegian motor tanker Kongsgaard was
torpedoed and damaged by the U-564, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See
Reinhard Suhren, about 300 miles south of Iceland in the northern
Atlantic Ocean.Sailing
with Convoy SL-78, the British steam merchant Empire Ability was
torpedoed and sunk by the U-69, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Jost
Metzler, approximately 200 miles southeast of the Azores in the central Atlantic
Ocean. Of the ship’s complement and passengers, 2 died and 107 survivors
were picked up by the British motor merchant Amerika. The 7,603 ton
Empire Ability was carrying sugar, rum, kernels, fibre, and passengers
and was headed for Liverpool, England.Sailing
with Convoy SL-78, the British steam merchant River Lugar was torpedoed
and sunk by the U-69 approximately
200 miles southeast of the Azores. Of the
ship’s complement, 38 died and 6 survivors were picked up by the
corvette HMS Burdock (K 126). The 5,423 ton River Lugar was carrying
iron ore and was headed for Barry Roads, England.Sailing
with Convoy HX-133, the 10,356 ton Dutch motor tanker Tibia was
torpedoed and damaged by the U-79, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Wolfgang
Kaufmann, in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, all
50 survived.The
unescorted Finnish steam merchant Pluto was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-146, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Otto Ites, about 100 miles
north-northwest of Butt of Lewis, Scotland in the northern Atlantic
Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 3 died and 36 survivors were picked up
by the ASW trawler HMS Northern Duke (4.11). The 3,496 ton Pluto was
carrying grain, coal, and oil and was headed for Petsamo, Finland.The
6,619 ton Italian steam merchant Ernani, disguised as the Dutch steam
merchant Enggano. Schütze, was torpedoed and sunk by the U-103,
commanded by Korvettenkapitän Viktor Schütze, about 450 miles west of
Las Palmas, Canary Islands in the eastern Atlantic Ocean.The
British steam merchant Rio Azul was torpedoed and sunk by the U-123,
commanded by Kapitänleutnant Reinhard Hardegen, about 200 miles
southeast of the Azores in the central Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, 33 died and 9 survivors were picked up by the armed merchant
cruiser HMS Esperance Bay (F 67). The 4,088 ton Rio Azul was carrying
iron ore and was headed for Middlesbrough, England.The
unescorted Icelandic steam merchant Hekla was torpedoed and sunk by the
U-564, commanded by Oberleutnant zur See Reinhard Suhren, south of
Greenland in the northern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 13
died and 6 survivors were picked up by the corvette HMS Candytuft (K
09). The 1,215 ton Hekla was carrying ballast and was headed for New
York,
New York.Sailing
with Convoy HX-133, the British steam merchant Grayburn was torpedoed
and sunk by the U-651, commanded by Peter Lohmeyer, south of Iceland in
the northern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, 35 died and 18
survivors were picked up by the corvette HMS Violet (K 35). The 6,342
ton Grayburn was carrying scrap and steel and was headed for Swansea,
England.A
straggler from Convoy SL-78, the Greek steam merchant George J.
Goulandris was torpedoed and sunk by the U-66, commanded by
Korvettenkapitän Richard Zapp, west of the Canary Islands in the eastern
Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s complement, all 28 survived. The 4,345 ton
George J. Goulandris was carrying sugar and was headed for Leith Roads,
England.A
straggler from Convoy SL-78, the Greek steam merchant Kalypso Vergotti
was torpedoed and sunk by the U-66, commanded by Korvettenkapitän
Richard Zapp, west of the Canary Islands in the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
All of the ship’s complement of 36 died. The 5,686 ton Kalypso Vergotti
was carrying iron ore and was headed for Glasgow, Scotland.A
straggler from Convoy SL-78, the British steam merchant Saint Anselm was
torpedoed and sunk by the U-66, commanded by Korvettenkapitän Richard
Zapp, west of Madeira in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. Of the ship’s
complement, 34 died and 33 survivors were picked up by the armed
merchant cruiser HMS Moreton Bay (F 11) and the Spanish steam merchant
Tom. The 5,614 ton Saint Anselm was carrying pig iron, linseed, and
groundnuts and was headed for Hull, England.
Other Battle of the Atlantic EventsNo.
120 Squadron, RAF Coastal Command, formed at Nutts Corner, Northern
Ireland, with American-built Consolidated Liberator long-range
maritime patrol aircraft to fly against the U-Boat threat in the war
in the North Atlantic.South
Greenland Patrol, under command of Commander Harold G. Belford,
USCG, was established to operate from Cape Brewster to Cape Farewell
to Upernivik, The Coast Guard cutters USCGS Modoc, USCGS Comanche,
and USCGS Raritan, together with the unclassified auxiliary vessel
Bowdoin (IX-50) made up the force.The
U.S. Ship Requisition Act was passed by the U.S. Congress and signed the
same day by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt issued
Executive Order No. 8771 authorizing the U.S. Maritime Commission to
take over certain foreign vessels. This allowed
the U.S. Coast Guard to seize these vessels for the war effort. In all
105 ships totaling 554,991 tons were seized 40 from Denmark, 28 from
Italy, 17 from Finland, 10 from France, 3 from Germany, 2 from Estonia,
and one each from Lithuania, Rumania, Holland, Sweden, and Greece. 27 of
the Italian ships and 1 German ship had been sabotaged by their crews.Central
North Atlantic patrols commenced with battleship/destroyer task groups.
The battleship USS Texas (BB 35) and accompanying destroyers would
inaugurate these patrols.U.S.
Navy Task Force 3, under command of Rear Admiral Jonas H. Ingram, began
patrol operations from the Brazilian ports of Recife and Bahia. The
force consisted of four Omaha (CL 4)-class light cruisers and five
destroyers.U.S.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed Congress and denounced the
sinking of the American merchant steamship SS Robin Moor by the U-69 on
May 21, 1941. "The total disregard shown for the most elementary
principles of international law and of humanity brands the sinking of
the Robin Moor as the act of an international outlaw." Roosevelt noted
that the Robin Moor's destruction was a "warning that the United States
may use the high seas of the world only with Nazi consent. Were we to
yield on this we would inevitably submit to world-domination at the
hands of the present leaders of the German Reich. We are not yielding,"
the President declared, "and we do not propose to yield." Undersecretary
of State Sumner Welles sent this message to the German Embassy for the
information of the German government.
Read the text of the
message.U.S.
Navy Task Group 2.6, comprised of the aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV 7),
heavy cruiser USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37), and destroyers USS Anderson (DD
411) and USS Rowan (DD 405), departed Hampton Roads for a 4,320-mile
neutrality patrol that would conclude at Bermuda on July 4.U.S.
Navy Task Group 2.7, comprised of the light
cruisers USS Philadelphia (CL 41) and USS Savannah (CL 42) and
destroyers USS Lang (DD 399) and USS Wilson (DD 408), departed Hampton
Roads for a 4,762-mile neutrality patrol that will conclude on July 8 at
Bermuda.U.S.
Navy Task Group 2.8, comprised of the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV
5), heavy cruisers USS Quincy (CA 39) and USS Vincennes (CA 44), and
destroyers USS Wainwright (DD 419), USS Hammann (DD 412), USS Mustin (DD
413), and USS Stack (DD 406), departed Hampton Roads for a neutrality
patrol. The USS Yorktown, accompanied by the
USS Wainwright and USS Stack, departed the patrol on July 10, returning
to Hampton Roads on the July 12. The USS Quincy, USS Vincennes, USS
Hammann, and USS Mustin would continue the cruise, putting into Bermuda
on July 15.
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