HMS Rosabelle
British Patrol yacht
Photo courtesy of Chris Brown
| Name | HMS Rosabelle | ||
| Type: | Patrol yacht | ||
| Tonnage | 515 tons | ||
| Completed | 1902 - Ramage & Ferguson Ltd, Leith | ||
| Owner | The Admiralty | ||
| Homeport | Leith | ||
| Date of attack | 11 Dec 1941 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-374 (Unno von Fischel) | ||
| Position | 35° 59'N, 5° 17'W - Grid CG 9671 | ||
| Complement | 42 (30 dead and 12 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Gibraltar - patrol area | ||
| Cargo | |||
| History | Completed in January 1902 as steam yacht Rosabelle for Theodore Pim. In the First World War requisitioned as patrol yacht by the Admiralty and armed with one 3in and two 6pdr guns. In September 1939 purchased by the Admiralty and initially used as armed boarding vessel, later again as patrol yacht. | ||
| Notes on event | At 04.21 hours on 11 Dec 1941, HMS Lady Shirley (LtCdr A.H. Callaway, RANVR) was hit by one torpedo from U-374, exploded and sank with all hands. HMS Rosabelle (Lt Hercules S. Findlay, RNR) tried to locate the U-boat, but at 04.42 hours was also torpedoed and sank within 30 seconds in the Straits of Gibraltar. The commander, two officers and 27 ratings were lost. Three officers and nine ratings were picked up by the British patrol yacht HMS Sayonara (Cdr H.G. Gorton, Rtd) and landed at Gibraltar. | ||
| On board | We have details of 31 people who were on board. | ||
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