Ships hit by U-boats


Alcoa Pilgrim

American Steam merchant


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NameAlcoa Pilgrim
Type:Steam merchant (C-1 type)
Tonnage6,759 tons
Completed1941 - Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp, San Francisco CA 
OwnerAlcoa SS Co, New York 
HomeportNew York 
Date of attack28 May 1942Nationality:      American
 
FateSunk by U-502 (Jürgen von Rosenstiel)
Position16° 28'N, 67° 37'W - Grid ED 1769
Complement40 (31 dead and 9 survivors).
Convoy
RoutePort of Spain, Trinidad - Mobile AL 
Cargo9500 tons of bauxite ore 
History  
Notes on event

At 02.00 hours on 28 May 1942 the zigzagging, unescorted and unarmed Alcoa Pilgrim (Master Leon Roar Petersen, lost) was hit by a torpedo from U-502 on the starboard side just below the waterline in the engine room. The ship sank in 90 seconds about 150 miles south of the Mona Passage. The crew of nine officers and 31 men had no time to launch a lifeboat and only nine managed to get on board of two rafts. U-502 came alongside one of the rafts and an officer inquired about the name of the ship, her nationality, tonnage and cargo. He also asked if the rafts had sails and wished the men luck. Six days later, the American steam merchant Thomas Nelson picked up the surviving three officers and six men and landed them at Port of Spain on 5 June.

 
On boardWe have details of 40 people who were on board


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