Ships hit by U-boats


Empire Union

British Steam merchant



Photo from naviearmatori.net

NameEmpire Union
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage5,952 tons
Completed1924 - Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino, Trieste 
OwnerCanadian Pacific Steamships Ltd, Montreal 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack27 Dec 1942Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-356 (Günther Ruppelt)
Position47° 30'N, 24° 30'W - Grid BD 41
Complement69 (6 dead and 63 survivors).
ConvoyONS-154
RouteLondon - Loch Ewe (19 Dec) - St. John, New Brunswick 
Cargo940 tons of general cargo, including government stores 
History Completed in April 1925 as Italian Salvore for Navigazione Libera-Triestina, Societa in Azioni, Trieste. 1927 renamed Sistiana and 1937 transferred to Società Anonima di Navigazione Lloyd Triestino, Trieste.

On 10 June 1940 the Sistiana was seized at Table Bay by the South African Navy and renamed Myrica for the South African Government. 1941 given to Britain and renamed Empire Union by Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). 

Notes on event

About 02.40 hours on 27 December 1942 the Empire Union and Melrose Abbey in convoy ONS-154 were torpedoed and sunk north-northeast of the Azores. About 03.10 hours, the Soekaboemi and King Edward were also hit. All ships must have been torpedoed by U-356, which was herself lost after the attacks.

The master, four crew members and one gunner from Empire Union (Master Hubert Arthur MacCallum) were lost. 59 crew members and four gunners were picked up by the British rescue ship Toward (Master Gordon K. Hudson) and landed at Halifax on 9 January.

 
On boardWe have details of 7 people who were on board


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