Polybius
American Steam merchant
Name | Polybius | ||
Type: | Steam merchant | ||
Tonnage | 7,041 tons | ||
Completed | 1919 - Skinner & Eddy Corp, Seattle WA | ||
Owner | American-South African Line Inc, New York | ||
Homeport | Seattle | ||
Date of attack | 27 Jun 1942 | Nationality: American | |
Fate | Sunk by U-128 (Ulrich Heyse) | ||
Position | 10° 55'N, 57° 40'W - Grid EE 8747 | ||
Complement | 44 (10 dead and 34 survivors). | ||
Convoy | |||
Route | Bombay, India - Capetown - Trinidad - Norfolk, Virginia | ||
Cargo | 7671 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. | ||
On board | We have details of 15 people who were on board. |
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