Ships hit by U-boats


Cortes

British Steam merchant


We don't have a picture of this vessel at this time.


NameCortes
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage1,374 tons
Completed1919 - Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Dundee 
OwnerMacAndrews & Co Ltd, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack26 Sep 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-124 (Johann Mohr)
Position47° 48'N, 23° 45'W - Grid BE 4166
Complement43 (43 dead - no survivors)
ConvoyHG-73
RouteLisbon – Liverpool - London 
CargoGeneral cargo, including potash and cork 
History Laid down as War Waveney for The Shipping Controller, completed in August 1919 as Cortes for MacAndrews & Co Ltd, London. 
Notes on event

At 02.32 hours on 26 September 1941 the Cortes (Master Donald Roy MacRae) in station #12 of convoy HG-73 was hit aft by one torpedo from U-124 and sank immediately by the stern north-northeast of the Azores.

After both ships ahead of her were torpedoed, the Lapwing in station #13 stopped and launched a lifeboat for rescue work. Among the survivors picked up were three men from Cortes, but they had to abandon ship again when she was sunk by U-203 (Mützelburg) at 06.34 hours. The lifeboat of Lapwing made landfall in Ireland two weeks later, but two crew members from Cortes had died from exposure in the boat and the last survivor, boatswain Alfonso Pimentil, died later in a hospital in Clifden. The master, 30 crew members, six gunners and six passengers (DBS) were lost.

 
On boardWe have details of 43 people who were on board


If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.

Return to Allied Ships hit by U-boats