Ships hit by U-boats


Tuscan Star

British Motor merchant



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameTuscan Star
Type:Motor merchant
Tonnage11,449 tons
Completed1930 - Palmers Shipbuilding & Iron Co Ltd, Hebburn-on-Tyne 
OwnerBlue Star Line Ltd, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack6 Sep 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-109 (Heinrich Bleichrodt)
Position1° 34'N, 11° 39'W - Grid FF 1149
Complement114 (51 dead and 63 survivors).
Convoy
RouteBuenos Aires - Santos - Freetown (27 Aug) - Liverpool 
Cargo7840 tons of frozen meat and 5000 tons of general cargo 
History Completed in April 1930

On 17 Dec 1939, the Tuscan Star (Master Owen Conder Roberts) was attacked for 20 minutes by a German aircraft off Folkestone. Due to evasive actions, no bombs hit and the ship was only slightly damaged by near misses and machinegun fire at the wireless room, boat deck and after gun platform. The second wireless officer was severely wounded in the attack. 
Notes on event

At 23.23 hours on 6 Sep 1942 the unescorted Tuscan Star (Master Edgar Newton Rhodes) was hit on the starboard side at the engine room and the #5 hold by two torpedoes from U-109 and sank after 16 minutes about 300 miles southwest of Cape Palmas. 40 crew members, eight gunners and three passengers were lost. The master, 35 crew members, four gunners and 22 passengers abandoned ship in three lifeboats and were questioned by the Germans and they told them that the master went down with the ship and were provided with food for the women and children in one of the boats. Calls for help were heard aboard the U-boat so they searched the area and picked up the second wireless operator Gordon Herneth Gill, who was taken prisoner, landed at Lorient on 6 October and was taken to the POW camp Milag Nord. The survivors were picked up by the British passenger ship Otranto and landed at Freetown on 10 September.

 
On boardWe have details of 11 people who were on board


If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.

Return to Allied Ships hit by U-boats