Ships hit by U-boats


Peiping

Swedish Motor merchant



Photo courtesy of Sjöhistoriska Museet, Stockholm

NamePeiping
Type:Motor merchant
Tonnage6,390 tons
Completed1931 - A/B Götaverken, Gothenburg 
OwnerA/B Svenska Ostasiatiska Kompaniet, Gothenburg 
HomeportGothenburg 
Date of attack9 Sep 1942Nationality:      Swedish
 
FateSunk by U-66 (Friedrich Markworth)
Position23° 50'N, 50° 10'W - Grid DQ 1895
Complement34 (3 dead and 31 survivors).
Convoy
RouteBuenos Aires - New York 
Cargo9950 tons of general cargo, including wool, hides, dyes and tallow 
History Completed in October 1931 
Notes on event

At 10.25 hours on 9 Sep 1942 the unescorted Peiping (Master F. Svenselius) was sighted and identified by U-66 in the Sargasso Sea about 750 miles northeast of Barbuda. Markworth decided to sink the vessel because her neutrality markings were not illuminated and she was not on the list of ships registered for trading with neutral countries. The ship stopped and developed a slight list after being hit by one of two torpedoes at 15.28 hours. The torpedo struck on the starboard side in the engine room and killed three men on watch below. After the crew abandoned ship in three lifeboats, the U-boat fired two coups de grâce at 16.01 hours. One torpedo malfunctioned, but the other hit and caused her to sink after 20 minutes. The Germans then took the master and chief engineer aboard for questioning and returned them to the lifeboats after one hour. The survivors made landfall on a Caribbean island after sailing for one arduous week.

 
On boardWe have details of 5 people who were on board


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