British Promise
British Motor tanker
Photo courtesy of the Allen Collection
| Name | British Promise | ||
| Type: | Motor tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 8,443 tons | ||
| Completed | 1942 - Cammell Laird & Co Ltd, Birkenhead | ||
| Owner | British Tanker Co Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 21 Nov 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Damaged by U-518 (Friedrich-Wilhelm Wissmann) | ||
| Position | 43° 53'N, 55° 02'W - Grid BB 9515 | ||
| Complement | 61 (0 dead and 61 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | ON-145 | ||
| Route | Liverpool - New York | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Completed in November 1942 Post-war: | ||
| Notes on event | At 04.16 hours on 21 Nov 1942, U-518 fired a spread of two stern torpedoes at two overlapping steamers in convoy ON-145, at 04.24 hours one single bow torpedo at a special ship and one minute later a spread of two bow torpedoes at one of the biggest ships about 200 miles southeast of Sydney, Nova Scotia. Wissmann could not observe the results as he was forced to crash dive after the attack, but heard three detonations and claimed the sinking of two ships. In fact, the British Promise in station #61, the British Renown in station #71 and the Empire Sailor in station #82 had been hit by one torpedo each. The British Promise (Master E.J. Goodchild) on her maiden voyage was damaged, but reached Halifax on 22 November. No casualties among the crew of 54 and seven gunners. The tanker was repaired and returned to service in May 1943. | ||
| On board | We have details of 5 people who were on board. | ||
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