Ships hit by U-boats


Mosfruit

Norwegian Motor merchant



Photo courtesy of H. Larsson-Feddes collection

NameMosfruit
Type:Motor merchant
Tonnage2,714 tons
Completed1938 - Eriksbergs Mekaniske Verkstads A/B, Gothenburg 
OwnerMartin Mosvold, Farsund 
HomeportFarsund 
Date of attack30 Jun 1942Nationality:      Norwegian
 
FateSunk by U-458 (Kurt Diggins)
Position56° 10'N, 23° 40'W - Grid AL 4224
Complement36 (0 dead and 36 survivors).
Convoy
RouteSt. John, New Brunswick - Liverpool 
CargoGeneral cargo and frozen meat 
History Completed in August 1938 
Notes on event

At 16.26 hours on 30 Jun 1942 the unescorted Mosfruit (Master Jens Lassen Ugland) was hit by one torpedo from U-458 just forward of bridge on the port side. All on board went in the starboard lifeboat, but one of the three British passengers was missing and the master and six men went back on board to search him. They found him in shock and a head wound and brought him to the lifeboat, while they also gathered some blankets, food and other necessities before lowering the gig. The U-boat then surfaced and questioned the survivors before finishing off the vessel with 51 rounds of gunfire at 19.39 hours.
The lifeboats sailed for seven days towards Ireland, before the survivors were found on 8 July by the British motor merchant Empire Hope about 40 miles west-northwest of Tory Island and taken to Belfast the same day. Three dogs and a cat had been also in the lifeboat, but the cat had died on the third day as it was always licking salt water off its fur.

The master, Jens Lassen Ugland, later took over the Christian Michelsen, which was sunk by U-410 (Fenski) on 26 Sep 1943.

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 33 people who were on board


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