Ships hit by U-boats


Viceroy of India

British Troop transport



NameViceroy of India
Type:Troop transport
Tonnage19,627 tons (one of the largest ships sunk).
Completed1929 - A. Stephen & Sons Ltd, Linthouse, Glasgow 
OwnerP. & O. Steam Navigation Co Ltd, London 
HomeportGlasgow 
Date of attack11 Nov 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-407 (Ernst-Ulrich Brüller)
Position36° 26'N, 0° 24'W - Grid CH 7619
Complement454 (4 dead and 450 survivors).
ConvoyTorch
RouteAlgiers (10 Nov) - Gibraltar - UK 
CargoBallast 
History Ordered as steam passenger ship Taj Mahal, completed in March 1929 as Viceroy of India. On 12 Nov 1940, requistioned as troop transport by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). 
Notes on event

At 05.24 hours on 11 Nov 1942 the Viceroy of India (Master Sydney Herbert French) was hit by two of four torpedoes from U-407 34 miles northwest of Oran and was missed by the stern torpedo at 05.31 hours. The ship had arrived at Algiers with convoy KMF-1A, disembarked her troops for Operation Torch and was returning empty to Gibraltar when torpedoed. She was taken in tow by HMS Boadicea (H 65) (LtCdr F.C. Brodrick, RN), but sank in 36°24N/00°35W. Four crew members were killed. The master, 398 crew members, 29 gunners and 22 passengers were picked up by the destroyer and landed at Gibraltar.

 
On boardWe have details of 7 people who were on board


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