Ships hit by U-boats


Sydhav

Norwegian Motor tanker



Photo courtesy of Per Lodding

NameSydhav
Type:Motor tanker
Tonnage7,587 tons
Completed1929 - Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend, Sunderland 
OwnerTrygve Lodding, Oslo 
HomeportOslo 
Date of attack6 Mar 1942Nationality:      Norwegian
 
FateSunk by U-505 (Axel-Olaf Loewe)
Position4° 47'N, 14° 57'W - Grid ET 8320
Complement36 (12 dead and 24 survivors).
Convoy
RouteCuraƧao (17 Feb) - Trinidad - Freetown 
Cargo11,400 tons of oil 
History Completed in March 1929 
Notes on event

At 11.31 hours on 6 March 1942 the unescorted Sydhav (Master Nils O. Helgesen) was hit on the starboard side by two torpedoes from U-505. The first struck in the engine room and the second a little foreward of it. The explosions destroyed the starboard lifeboat and caused the ship to sink rapidly by the stern. The crew had no time to launch the port boat, jumped overboard and were pulled under with the suction. The master and ten crew members were lost, while the survivors rescued themselves on two rafts. They then spotted the U-boat about 250 metres away and heard that the Chinese messboy, who was clinging to debris in the water, was questioned, then the Germans left without having approached the rafts. Later the survivors were able to bail the capsized port lifeboat and picked up the messboy, but he died from his injuries shortly thereafter. After an unsuccessful search for other survivors the survivors headed north and were picked up by HMS Kelt (FY 112) (T/Lt S.C. Callister, RNR) shortly after midnight on 7 March and taken to Freetown.

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 36 people who were on board


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