Ships hit by U-boats


Polybius

American Steam merchant


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NamePolybius
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage7,041 tons
Completed1919 - Skinner & Eddy Corp, Seattle WA 
OwnerAmerican-South African Line Inc, New York 
HomeportSeattle 
Date of attack27 Jun 1942Nationality:      American
 
FateSunk by U-128 (Ulrich Heyse)
Position10° 55'N, 57° 40'W - Grid EE 8747
Complement44 (10 dead and 34 survivors).
Convoy
RouteBombay, India - Capetown - Trinidad - Norfolk, Virginia 
Cargo7671 tons of manganese ore and general cargo 
History  
Notes on event

At 15.52 hours on 27 June 1942 the unescorted and unarmed Polybius (Master Ole P. Stender) was hit by one torpedo from U-128 about 250 miles east of Trinidad, while steaming a nonevasive course at 9 knots. The torpedo had been spotted by a lookout, but it was too late and it struck abaft the #5 hatch directly under the living quarters, blowing off the stern and killing ten crew members. She settled rapidly by the stern and sank within ten minutes. The survivors among the eight officers, 29 crewmen and seven passengers on board abandoned ship in four lifeboats immediately after the hit. The master was questioned by the U-boat before it left the area.
Seven survivors in one boat were picked up the next day by the Dutch steam merchant Dracos and taken to Georgetown, British Guiana. Twelve men in a second boat were picked up after three days by the steam merchant Clarona and brought to Trinidad. The remaining survivors in the other two boats were rescued by an Allied vessel after two days and landed in Trinidad.

 
On boardWe have details of 15 people who were on board


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