Viceroy of India
British Troop transport
Name | Viceroy of India | ||
Type: | Troop transport | ||
Tonnage | 19,627 tons (one of the largest ships sunk). | ||
Completed | 1929 - A. Stephen & Sons Ltd, Linthouse, Glasgow | ||
Owner | P. & O. Steam Navigation Co Ltd, London | ||
Homeport | Glasgow | ||
Date of attack | 11 Nov 1942 | Nationality: British | |
Fate | Sunk by U-407 (Ernst-Ulrich Brüller) | ||
Position | 36° 26'N, 0° 24'W - Grid CH 7619 | ||
Complement | 454 (4 dead and 450 survivors). | ||
Convoy | Torch | ||
Route | Algiers (10 Nov) - Gibraltar - UK | ||
Cargo | Ballast | ||
History | Ordered as steam passenger ship Taj Mahal, completed in March 1929 as Viceroy of India. On 12 Nov 1940, requistioned as troop transport by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). | ||
Notes on event | At 05.24 hours on 11 Nov 1942 the Viceroy of India (Master Sydney Herbert French) was hit by two of four torpedoes from U-407 34 miles northwest of Oran and was missed by the stern torpedo at 05.31 hours. The ship had arrived at Algiers with convoy KMF-1A, disembarked her troops for Operation Torch and was returning empty to Gibraltar when torpedoed. She was taken in tow by HMS Boadicea (H 65) (LtCdr F.C. Brodrick, RN), but sank in 36°24N/00°35W. Four crew members were killed. The master, 398 crew members, 29 gunners and 22 passengers were picked up by the destroyer and landed at Gibraltar. | ||
On board | We have details of 7 people who were on board. |
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