Ships hit by U-boats


Edward Blyden

British Motor merchant



Photo courtesy of the Allen Collection

NameEdward Blyden
Type:Motor merchant
Tonnage5,003 tons
Completed1930 - Harland & Wolff Ltd, Govan, Glasgow 
OwnerElder Dempster Lines Ltd, Liverpool 
HomeportLiverpool 
Date of attack22 Sep 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-103 (Werner Winter)
Position27° 36'N, 24° 29'W - Grid DG 9922
Complement63 (0 dead and 63 survivors).
ConvoySL-87
RouteTakoradi - Freetown (14 Sep) - Liverpool 
Cargo5525 tons of general cargo 
History Completed in May 1930 
Notes on event

At 23.46 hours on 22 Sep 1941, U-103 fired four bow torpedoes at convoy SL-87 southwest of the Canary Islands, turned around and fired two stern torpedoes at 23.47 hours. They observed a ship capsizing after a small explosion and two other ships going down by their sterns after two further explosions. The fourth torpedo was a shallow hit causing a large column of water and the fifth exploded with a blue-green flash. Winter thought that four ships were sunk and another damaged. However, the Edward Blyden and Niceto de Larrinaga were each hit by two torpedoes.

The master, 46 crew members, four gunners and 12 passengers from the Edward Blyden (Master William Exley) were picked up by HMS Bideford (L 43) (LtCdr W.J. Moore, RNR) and landed at Londonderry on 5 October.

 
On boardWe have details of 3 people who were on board


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