Clan Macarthur
British Steam merchant
Photo courtesy of the Allen Collection
| Name | Clan Macarthur | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 10,528 tons | ||
| Completed | 1936 - Greenock Dockyard Co Ltd, Greenock | ||
| Owner | The Clan Line Steamers Ltd (Cayzer, Irvine & Co Ltd), London | ||
| Homeport | Glasgow | ||
| Date of attack | 12 Aug 1943 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-181 (Wolfgang Lüth) | ||
| Position | 23° 00'S, 53° 11'E - Grid KR 2213 | ||
| Complement | 157 (52 dead and 105 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | DN-55 (dispersed) | ||
| Route | Glasgow - Durban (5 Aug) - Port Louis, Mauritius | ||
| Cargo | 6346 tons of general cargo, including 5500 tons of military stores, ammunition and mail | ||
| History | Completed in January 1936 | ||
| Notes on event | At 03.32 hours on 12 August 1943 the unescorted Clan Macarthur (Master John Drayton Matthews), dispersed from convoy DN-55, was hit by two G7a torpedoes from U-181 after a hunt of over 15 hours about 350 miles east of Farafangan, Madagascar. The ship sank by the bow eight minutes after being hit by a coup de grâce at 03.47 hours. After the ship sank a heavy underwater detonation slightly damaged the U-boat and swamped several lifeboats. The Germans questioned the survivors before they left the area. 50 crew members, one gunner and one passenger were lost. The master, 84 crew members, 15 gunners and five passengers were picked up by FFL Savorgnan de Brazza and landed at Port Louis, Mauritius. | ||
| On board | We have details of 58 people who were on board. | ||
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