Ships hit by U-boats


John Winthrop

American Steam merchant


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NameJohn Winthrop
Type:Steam merchant (Liberty)
Tonnage7,176 tons
Completed1942 - New England Shipbuilding Corp, Portland ME 
OwnerUnited Fruit SS Co, New York 
HomeportPortland 
Date of attack24 Sep 1942Nationality:      American
 
FateSunk by U-619 (Kurt Makowski)
Position56° 00'N, 31° 00'W - Grid AK 6119
Complement52 (52 dead - no survivors)
ConvoyON-131 (straggler)
RouteGlasgow - New York 
CargoBallast 
History Completed July 1942 
Notes on event

On 24 Sep 1942 the John Winthrop (Master Charles Malcolm Robertson) was torpedoed five times by U-619 and broke in two. The U- boat surfaced and sank both parts with gunfire until 19.10 hours. The ship had been in convoy ON-131, but straggled from convoy on the night of 21 September and was never seen again, all seven officers, 32 crewmen and 13 armed guards (the ship was armed with one 5in, four 20mm and two .30cal guns) were lost.

 
On boardWe have details of 52 people who were on board


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