Ships hit by U-boats


Neptunia

British Steam tug



NameNeptunia
Type:Steam tug
Tonnage798 tons
Completed1938 - Cochrane & Sons Ltd, Selby 
OwnerOverseas Towage & Salvage Co Ltd, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack13 Sep 1939Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-29 (Otto Schuhart)
Position49° 20'N, 14° 40'W - Grid BE 3471
Complement21 (0 dead and 21 survivors).
Convoy
RouteFalmouth (12 Sep) - salvage work 
CargoNone 
History Completed in August 1938 
Notes on event

At 15.30 hours on 13 Sep 1939, U-29 tried to stop the unescorted Neptunia (Master Joseph Cordery) about 270 miles west-southwest of Cape Clear by a shot across her bow, but the tug did not stop and used its radio. She was en route to assist HMS Walker (D 27) (Cdr W.J.C. Robertson, RN), which had been badly damaged in a collision with HMS Vanquisher (D 54) (LtCdr K.H. Fraser, RN) while escorting convoy OB-2 southwest of Ireland on 11 September. After the first hits, the crew immediately abandoned ship in a motor boat. The Germans questioned the master and then sent the boat with a boarding party to the ship. However, the U-boat recalled the men shortly after they went aboard in order to sink the vessel quickly by a torpedo, but was forced to sink the tug by gunfire after firing two torpedoes that detonated prematurely. On 15 September, the survivors were picked up by the Brinkburn.

 
On boardWe have details of 1 people who were on board


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