Tjileboet
Dutch Steam merchant
Photo Courtesy of arendnet.com
| Name | Tjileboet | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 5,760 tons | ||
| Completed | 1918 - NV Mij voor Scheeps-en Werktuigbouw ´Fyenoord´, Rotterdam | ||
| Owner | Koninklijke Java-China-Japan Lijn NV, Amsterdam | ||
| Homeport | Batavia | ||
| Date of attack | 29 Nov 1942 | Nationality:  Dutch | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-161 (Albrecht Achilles) | ||
| Position | 5° 34'N, 25° 02'W - Grid ES 7693 | ||
| Complement | 62 (62 dead - no survivors) | ||
| Convoy | ON-145 (dispersed) | ||
| Route | Swansea (7 Nov) - Belfast Lough (10 Nov) - Bahia - Capetown - Middle East | ||
| Cargo | General cargo, including food and ammunition | ||
| History | | ||
| Notes on event | At 00.37 hours on 29 Nov 1942, U-161 fired a spread of two torpedoes at the Tjileboet (Master J.W. Kroese), dispersed from convoy ON-145, and scored a hit after 72 seconds. The ship exploded in a heavy detonation and debris fell even around the U-boat in a distance of about 1000 metres. At 08.14 hours on 28 November, the Tjileboet had been spotted and she almost escaped as they forced the U-boat to dive at 11.10 hours when turning towards it and firing with artillery, but was finally hit after a difficult hunt in heavy rain squalls and being identified by her distress calls. | ||
| On board | We have details of 60 people who were on board. | ||
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