Ships hit by U-boats


Spar

Dutch Steam merchant



Photo Courtesy of arendnet.com

NameSpar
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage3,616 tons
Completed1924 - C. van der Giessen & Zonen’s Scheepswerven NV, Krimpen aan den IJssel 
OwnerNV Hudig & Pieters Algemeene Scheepvaart Mij, Rotterdam 
HomeportRotterdam 
Date of attack5 Aug 1942Nationality:      Dutch
 
FateSunk by U-593 (Gerd Kelbling)
Position53° 05'N, 43° 38'W - Grid AJ 9191
Complement39 (3 dead and 36 survivors).
ConvoySC-94
RouteKingston, Jamaica (25 Jun) - Sydney - London 
Cargo4900 tons of general cargo, including sugar, fruit pulp, timber, tobacco and cars 
History Completed in April 1924 
Notes on event

At 18.48 hours on 5 Aug 1942, U-593 fired three torpeodes at three ships in a two column convoy and after 30 seconds observed a hit on the ship in station #12 and assumed a hit on the vessel in station #11, because they heard a second detonation after 46 seconds. The ships attacked came from convoy SC-94, which had been separated into several smaller convoys due to fog on 3 August. These ships failed to hear the signals for a course change and regained contact later on 5 August.

One torpedo struck the Spar in the engine room and killed three of the four men on watch below. The ship capsized and sank in a short time. The survivors abandoned ship in two lifeboats and were picked up by one of the escorting corvettes HMS Nasturtium (K 107) (Lt C.D. Smith, DSC, RNR) or HMCS Orillia (K 119) (T/LtCdr W.E.S. Briggs, DSC, RCNR).

 
On boardWe have details of 11 people who were on board


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