Ships hit by U-boats


Empire Explorer

British Steam merchant



Empire Explorer under her former name Inanda

NameEmpire Explorer
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage5,345 tons
Completed1925 - Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend, Sunderland 
OwnerT. & J. Harrison, Liverpool 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack9 Jul 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-575 (Günther Heydemann)
Position11° 40'N, 60° 55'W - Grid ED 9679
Complement78 (3 dead and 75 survivors).
Convoy
RouteDemerara - Trinidad (8 Jul) - Barbados - UK 
Cargo4000 tons of sugar, 1000 tons of pitch and 200 bags of mail 
History Completed in May 1925 as British steam passenger ship Inanda (5985 grt) for Charente Steamship Co Ltd (T & J Harrison), Liverpool. On 7 September 1940 the Inanda was bombed and sunk during a German air raid while in Royal Albert Dock, London. Later raised, rebuilt and renamed Empire Explorer by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) in 1941. 
Notes on event

At 02.47 hours on 9 July 1942 the unescorted Empire Explorer (Master Edgar Buckingham Stephens) was torpedoed and sunk by gunfire by U-575 west of Tobago. Three crew members were lost. The master, 66 crew members and eight gunners were picked up by HMS MTB-337 and landed at Tobago. U-575 reported the ship under her former name Inanda.

 
On boardWe have details of 5 people who were on board


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