Ships hit by U-boats


Eleni Stathatou

Greek Steam merchant



Eleni Stathatou under her former name Lancaster Castle. Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameEleni Stathatou
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage5,625 tons
Completed1919 - Northumberland Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Howden-on-Tyne 
OwnerDemetrios Denys Stathatos, Anthony D. Stathatos and others, Athens 
HomeportIthaca 
Date of attack28 Jan 1940Nationality:      Greek
 
FateSunk by U-34 (Wilhelm Rollmann)
Position48° 49'N, 8° 34'W - Grid BF 1863
Complement? men (12 dead and ? survivors).
Convoy
RouteNewport - Gulf ports 
CargoBallast 
History Laid down as War Terrace for The Shipping Controller, completed in August 1919 as Lancaster Castle for Lancashire Shipping Co (J. Chambers & Co), Liverpool. 1936 renamed Seapharer for Seafarers SS Ltd (Stathatos & Co), London. 1938 renamed Eleni Stathatou for D.D. Stathatos, Ithaca. 
Notes on event

At 02.52 hours on 28 Jan 1940 the unescorted Eleni Stathatou (Master Dimitri Gratsos) was hit near the bridge by one stern torpedo from U-34 about 200 miles west of the Scilly Isles. Because the U-boat had only one torpedo left they waited nearby for the stopped vessel to sink, but after one hour the ship moved again. At 04.21 hours, the last torpedo was fired that hit in the forward part and caused the ship to sink slowly.

 
On boardWe have details of 1 people who were on board


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