Ships hit by U-boats


Harperley

British Steam merchant



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameHarperley
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage4,586 tons
Completed1930 - W. Gray & Co Ltd, West Hartlepool 
OwnerJ. & C. Harrison Ltd, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack5 May 1943Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-264 (Hartwig Looks)
Position55° 00'N, 42° 58'W - Grid AJ 6514
Complement49 (10 dead and 39 survivors).
ConvoyONS-5
RouteNewport, Mon. - Milford Haven (20 Apr) - Buenos Aires 
Cargo6005 tons of coal and bags of mail 
History  
Notes on event

At 03.02 and 03.03 hours on 5 May 1943, U-264 fired two spread of two torpedoes at convoy ONS-5 about 500 miles south of Cape Farewell and observed the sinking of two ships with two hits each. The ships sunk were the West Maximus and Harperley. At 03.05 hours, Looks fired a single torpedo and observed a hit on another ship, but this is not confirmed by Allied sources.

The Harperley (Master Joseph Ernest Turgoose) later sank in 55°03N/42°56W. Nine crew members and one gunner were lost. The master, 32 crew members and six gunners were picked up by HMS Northern Spray (FY 129) (Lt F.A.J. Downer) and landed at St.Johns.

 
On boardWe have details of 13 people who were on board


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