Lochavon
British Motor merchant
| Name | Lochavon | ||
| Type: | Motor merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 9,205 tons | ||
| Completed | 1938 - Harland & Wolff Ltd, Govan, Glasgow | ||
| Owner | Royal Mail Lines Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 14 Oct 1939 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-45 (Alexander Gelhaar) | ||
| Position | 50° 25'N, 13° 10'W - Grid BE 3366 | ||
| Complement | 62 (0 dead and 62 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | KJF-3 | ||
| Route | Vancouver, BC - San Francisco - Los Angeles - Panama - Liverpool - Glasgow - Southampton | ||
| Cargo | General cargo, including 31,000 cases of dried fruit | ||
| History | Completed in July 1938 | ||
| Notes on event | In the morning on 14 October 1939, U-45 attacked the unescorted convoy KJF-3 about 230 miles southwest of Fastnet and reported the sinking of three big steamers. In fact two ships, Lochavon and Bretagne were sunk and the British steam merchant Karamea (10350 grt) was missed, because a torpedo detonated prematurely. The U-boat was lost later the same day. The master, 55 crew members and six passengers from Lochavon (Master Charles Edward Rathkins) were picked up by HMS Ilex (D 61) (LtCdr P.L. Saumarez, RN) after eight hours and landed at Plymouth on 15 October. | ||
| On board | We have details of 2 people who were on board. | ||
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