Ships hit by U-boats


Pensilva

British Steam merchant



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NamePensilva
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage4,258 tons
Completed1929 - Burntisland Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Burntisland 
OwnerChellew Navigation Co Ltd, Cardiff 
HomeportSwansea 
Date of attack19 Nov 1939Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-49 (Kurt von Gossler)
Position46° 51'N, 11° 36'W - Grid BF 4445
Complement? men (0 dead and ? survivors).
Convoy
RouteDurban, South Africa - Gibraltar - Rouen - Dunkirk 
Cargo6985 tons of maize 
History Completed in November 1929 as Brynymor for Ambrose, Davies & Mathews Ltd, Swansea. 1931 renamed Pensilva for Chellew Navigation Co Ltd, Cardiff. 
Notes on event

At 12.19 hours on 19 Nov 1939 the unescorted Pensilva (Master Alfred Montague Brockwell) was hit by one torpedo from U-49 northwest of Cape Ortegal and sank slowly by the stern. The ship had been sighted at 09.35 hours and missed with a bow torpedo at 11.15 hours and a stern torpedo at 11.24 hours. The master and the crew were picked up by HMS Echo (H 23) (Cdr S.H.K. Spurgeon, RAN), transferred to HMS Wanderer (D 74) (Cdr R.F. Morice, RN) and landed at Plymouth.

 


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