Erna III
British Steam merchant
Photo courtesy of Danish Maritime Museum, Elsinore
| Name | Erna III | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 1,590 tons | ||
| Completed | 1930 - Helsingørs Jernskibs-og Maskinbyggeri A/S, Elsinore | ||
| Owner | Constantine Shipping Co Ltd, Middlesbrough | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 22 Sep 1941 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-562 (Horst Hamm) | ||
| Position | 61° 45'N, 35° 15'W - Grid AD 7853 | ||
| Complement | 27 (27 dead - no survivors) | ||
| Convoy | ON-16 (straggler) | ||
| Route | Swansea (11 Sep) - Milford Haven (12 Sep) - Montreal | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Completed in October 1930 as Danish Erna for A/S D/S Vesterhavet (J. Lauritzen), Esbjerg. On 26 Jun 1940, taken over by Britain and renamed Erna III by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT).
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| Notes on event | At 02.44 hours on 22 Sep 1941 the unescorted Erna III (Master Knud Christian Sørensen) was hit amidships by one G7e torpedo from U-562 and sank by the bow within 14 minutes about 275 miles east-northeast of Cape Farewell. The U-boat had first sighted the ship about 18 hours earlier and had to overtake it three times after missing with a spread of two G7e torpedoes at 15.45 hours on 21 September and one G7e torpedo at 01.06 hours on 22 September. The fourth torpedo eventually struck after a running time of just 18 seconds respectively a distance of only 270 meters. The Germans observed that two lifeboats were launched, but did not question the survivors who were never found: the master, 22 crew members and four gunners were lost. The Erna III was reported missing after straggling from station #12 in convoy ON-16 due to heavy weather on 21 September and was presumed lost about 25 September. | ||
| On board | We have details of 27 people who were on board. | ||
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