Ships hit by U-boats


De la Salle

British Steam passenger ship


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NameDe la Salle
Type:Steam passenger ship
Tonnage8,400 tons
Completed1921 - Barclay, Curle & Co Ltd, Whiteinch, Glasgow 
OwnerElder Dempster Lines Ltd, Liverpool 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack9 Jul 1943Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-508 (Georg Staats)
Position5° 50'N, 2° 22'E - Grid EV 6729
Complement249 (10 dead and 239 survivors).
ConvoyST-71
RouteLiverpool - Freetown - Walvis Bay - East London 
Cargo2103 tons of general and government cargo 
History Built as French De la Salle for Compagnie Générale Transatlantique, Paris.
In August 1940, the De la Salle was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine, renamed H-17 (H for Le Havre group) and used as transport for the planned operation Seelöwe (Invasion of Britain).
On 28 Oct 1941, the vessel was returned to her French owner, later captured by Britain and transferred to Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). 
Notes on event

At 02.43 hours on 9 July 1943, U-508 attacked convoy ST-71 60 miles southwest of Lagos in the Gulf of Benin and torpedoed the De la Salle and Manchester Citizen. The ships were sunk by coups de grâce at 04.25 and 04.52 hours.

The master, 129 crew members, 12 gunners and 97 passengers from the De la Salle (Master J. Le Mancheewere) were picked up by the FFL Commandant Detroyat (J 1166) and the British merchant Calabar and landed at Lagos. Eight crew members and two passengers were lost.

 
On boardWe have details of 13 people who were on board


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