Poseidon
Dutch Steam merchant
Photo courtesy of Maritiem Museum, Rotterdam
| Name | Poseidon | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 1,928 tons | ||
| Completed | 1921 - Dunlop, Bremner & Co Ltd, Port Glasgow | ||
| Owner | NV Koninklijke Nederlandsche Stoomboot Mij (KNSM), Amsterdam | ||
| Homeport | Amsterdam | ||
| Date of attack | 28 May 1942 | Nationality:  Dutch | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-155 (Adolf Cornelius Piening) | ||
| Position | 14° 35'N, 58° 19'W - Grid EE 4646 | ||
| Complement | 32 (32 dead - no survivors) | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Demerara (23 May) - Port of Spain, Trinidad (26 May) - New York | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Completed in March 1921 | ||
| Notes on event | On 26 May 1942 the Poseidon (Master W. Klijn) left Trinidad for New York where she was expected on 6 June, but did not arrive and was reported missing thereafter. At 20.00 hours on 27 May, U-155 had sighted an unescorted steamer of estimated 5000 tons near Barbados and unsuccessfully tried to overtake the vessel, so Piening decided to attack surfaced during the night. At 05.00 hours on 28 May, a first spread of two torpedoes missed but at 06.30 hours another spread of two torpedoes was fired of which one hit the ship between the stack and the mast aft. Shortly thereafter a boiler explosion caused the ship to sink by the stern quickly. It is quite sure that his victim was the Poseidon. Some sources claim that U-502 (Rosenstiel) sank the Poseidon in 36°N/71°W. This U-boat was lost when returning from patrol, but every attack carried out by her had been reported and the victims were identified. | ||
| On board | We have details of 32 people who were on board. | ||
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