San Demetrio
British Motor tanker
Photo courtesy of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, P14592
| Name | San Demetrio | ||
| Type: | Motor tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 8,073 tons | ||
| Completed | 1938 - Blythswood Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Glasgow | ||
| Owner | Eagle Oil & Shipping Co Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 17 Mar 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-404 (Otto von Bülow) | ||
| Position | 37° 03'N, 73° 50'W - Grid CA 8163 | ||
| Complement | 53 (19 dead and 34 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Baltimore (14 Mar) - Halifax - UK | ||
| Cargo | 4000 tons of alcohol and 7000 tons of motor spirit | ||
| History | Completed in December 1938 On 5 November 1940 the San Demetrio was shelled by the German heavy cruiser Admiral Scheer in convoy HX-84 and the crew immediately abandoned her after the highly inflammable cargo caught fire. The lifeboat in charge of the Second Officer Arthur G. Hawkins with two engineers and 14 crewmen sighted the still burning tanker two days later, boarded the ship and got the fire under control. They brought the badly damaged tanker under own power into the Clyde on 16 November, despite having no charts, radio or navigating instrument - the Second Officer was awarded the OBE for his skill and gallantry. | ||
| Notes on event | At 02.16 hours on 17 March 1942 the unescorted San Demetrio (Master Conrad Vidot) was torpedoed and sunk by U-404 northwest of Cape Charles, Virginia. 16 crew members and three gunners were lost. The U-boat inspected the lifeboats but did not communicate with the survivors and soon submerged again. The master, 26 crew members and seven gunners were picked up after two days by the American merchant Beta and landed at Norfolk, Viriginia. The master Conrad Vidot was awarded the Lloyds War Medal for bravery at sea. | ||
| On board | We have details of 53 people who were on board. | ||
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