Ships hit by U-boats


HMS Camito (F 77)

British Ocean boarding vessel



NameHMS Camito (F 77)
Type:Ocean boarding vessel
Tonnage6,833 tons
Completed1915 - A. Stephen & Sons Ltd, Linthouse, Glasgow 
OwnerThe Admiralty 
HomeportGlasgow 
Date of attack6 May 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-97 (Udo Heilmann)
Position50° 40'N, 21° 30'W - Grid BE 1372
Complement? men (28 dead and ? survivors).
Convoy
Route 
Cargo 
History Completed in June 1915 as steam merchant Camito for Elders & Fyffes Ltd, London. On 6 August 1940 requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to an ocean boarding vessel (OBV), commissioned on 26 September. 
Notes on event

On 1 May 1941 the blockade runner Sangro was captured by the British ocean boarding vessel HMS Cavina in 44°36N/30°20W. She was then escorted to the UK by HMS Camito (F 77) (A/Cdr A.A. Barnet, RNR).

At 02.40 hours on 6 May 1941 HMS Camito (F 77) (LtCdr Avon Alexander Barnet, RNR) was hit aft of amidships by one torpedo from U-97 west-southwest of Cape Clear. The U-boat had spotted the two ships at 17.45 hours on 5 May and had problems to keep contact in heavy seas and bad visibility. The OBV was missed at 02.02 hours with a spread of two torpedoes and three minutes later with a stern torpedo before being hit, but continued at slow speed. U-97 then chased the tanker, which caught fire after being hit by one torpedo at 03.53 hours and afterwards returned to the first vessel. Heilmann thought that it is a Q-ship and left the badly damaged ship, which sank the next day in 50°15N/21°16W. Six officers and 22 ratings were lost. The survivors of both ships were picked up by HMS Orchis (K 76) (Lt H. Vernon, RNR) and landed at Greenock.

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 35 people who were on board


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