Nigerian
British Steam merchant
Photo courtesy of Paul Johnson Collection
| Name | Nigerian | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 5,423 tons | ||
| Completed | 1936 - Deschimag Werk Seebeck, Bremerhaven | ||
| Owner | United Africa Co Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | Liverpool | ||
| Date of attack | 9 Dec 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-508 (Georg Staats) | ||
| Position | 9° 17'N, 59° 00'W - Grid EO 1537 | ||
| Complement | 61 (5 dead and 56 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Port Harcourt - Takoradi (22 Nov) - Trinidad - UK | ||
| Cargo | 4200 tons of palm oil seed, 1300 tons of timber, 1000 tons of cocoa and 750 tons peanut oil in bulk | ||
| History | Completed in February 1936 | ||
| Notes on event | At 00.05 hours on 9 Dec 1942 the unescorted Nigerian (Master Edward Robert Owen) was torpedoed by U-508 about 130 miles southeast of Trinidad and sunk by a coup de grâce at 00.50 hours. Four crew members and one passenger were lost. Four passengers (British military officers) were taken prisoner and landed at Lorient on 6 Jan 1943. The master, 36 crew members, eight gunners and seven passengers were rescued. The master and 29 survivors were picked up on 11 December by USS PC-624 and landed at Moruga Bay, Trinidad. The chief officer and 14 survivors were picked up by the Canadian steam merchant Newbrundoc and landed at Georgetown and the second officer and six survivors were picked up by the Panamanian steam merchant Maravi. | ||
| On board | We have details of 9 people who were on board. | ||
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