Ships hit by U-boats


Benlomond

British Steam merchant



Benlomond under her former name London Corporation. Photo from City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 447-2419

NameBenlomond
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage6,630 tons
Completed1922 - Irvine’s Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co Ltd, Middleton Shipyard, West Hartlepool 
OwnerBen Line Steamers (William Thomson & Co), Leith 
HomeportLeith 
Date of attack23 Nov 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-172 (Carl Emmermann)
Position0° 30'N, 38° 45'W - Grid FC 1138
Complement54 (53 dead and 1 survivor).
Convoy
RoutePort Said - Capetown - Paramaribo - New York 
CargoBallast 
History Completed in January 1922 as Cynthiana for Furness, Withy & Co Ltd, Liverpool. Later that year renamed Hoosac and 1923 renamed London Corporation for the same owner. 1937 sold to Greece and renamed Marionga J. Goulandris for Goulandris Bros, Piræus. 1938 sold to Britain and renamed Benlomond for Ben Line Steamers, Leith. 
Notes on event

At 14.10 hours on 23 Nov 1942 the unescorted Benlomond (Master John Maul) was hit by two torpedoes from U-172 and sank within 2 minutes about 750 miles east of the River Amazon, Brazil. The Germans questioned the survivors before leaving the area. The master, 44 crew members and eight gunners were lost. The sole survivor, the Chinese second mess steward Poon Lim, was rescued after an amazing 133 days alone on a Carley raft by a Brazilian fishing vessel east of Salinas and on 8 April 1943 landed at Belém, Brazil.

 
On boardWe have details of 52 people who were on board


If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.

Return to Allied Ships hit by U-boats