Michalios
Greek Steam merchant
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| Name | Michalios | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 3,742 tons | ||
| Completed | 1908 - AG Neptun, Rostock | ||
| Owner | Xilas Brothers, Chios | ||
| Homeport | Syra | ||
| Date of attack | 27 Jun 1943 | Nationality:  Greek | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-81 (Johann-Otto Krieg) | ||
| Position | 35° 33'N, 35° 38'W - Grid CP 3716 | ||
| Complement | 29 (1 dead and 28 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Mersin, Turkey (26 Jun) – Beirut, Lebanon - Port Said, Egypt | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Completed in May 1908 as German Santa Ursula for Hamburg-Südamerikanische DG, Hamburg. 1914 interned at Lisbon at the outbreak of World War 1. 1916 seized by the Portuguese Government and renamed Estremadura. 1925 sold to Germany and renamed Nordsee for Reederei W. Schuchmann, Geestemünde. 1926 sold to Greece and renamed Julia for P.E. Hadjilias, Syra. 1935 renamed Michalios for Xilas Brothers, Chios. | ||
| Notes on event | At 15.03 hours on 27 June 1943, U-81 fired a spread of two torpedoes at the unescorted Michalios (Master Pandelis Spaniolos) and hit her with one torpedo between hold #3 and #4. The stern broke off, causing the ship to sink within two minutes three miles west of Latakia, Syria. One crew member was lost. The U-boat had chased the vessel, misidentified as the Greek steam merchant Livathos (1667 grt), for more than six hours and missed with a first spread of two torpedoes at 14.57 hours. The attack was witnessed from the nearby coast and U-81 retreated from the area after being taken under fire by coastal artillery, therefore evading a search carried out by HMAS Cessnock (J 175) (Lt T.S. Marchington, RANR) and two Fairmile motor launches sent from Beirut, assisted by Walrus flying boats. The master and 27 survivors were picked up by one of the motor launches and landed at Latakia. | ||
| On board | We have details of 2 people who were on board. | ||
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