Ships hit by U-boats


Ruth I

Norwegian Steam merchant


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NameRuth I
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage3,531 tons
Completed1900 - C.S. Swan & Hunter Ltd, Wallsend 
OwnerBrummenæs & Torgersen, Haugesund 
HomeportHaugesund 
Date of attack6 Apr 1944Nationality:      Norwegian
 
FateSunk by U-302 (Herbert Sickel)
Position45° 05'N, 35° 11'W - Grid BD 7348
Complement39 (3 dead and 36 survivors).
ConvoySC-156
RouteHalifax (29 Mar) - Liverpool 
CargoSteel, lumber and pit props 
History

delivered in April 1900 as Ruth to Hagb. Waage, Christiania. 1927 sold to Brummenæs & Torgersen, Haugesund and renamed Ruth I in April 1932.

At 08.30 hours on 28 Jan 1941, the Ruth I, a straggler from convoy SC-19, was attacked and slightly damaged by German Condor aircraft about 350 miles west of the Orkneys.

On 21 Jul 1941, she left Oban in convoy OG-69 for Gibraltar, but after Inga I had been torpedoed and sunk by U-126 (Bauer) on 27 July, the Ruth I and two British ships were ordered to leave the convoy and reached the destination safely. In October 1941, Ruth I (Master Einar Haugland) returned to the UK in convoy HG-75

Notes on event

On 6 April 1944, U-302 fired torpedoes at convoy SC-156 and sank Ruth I and South America, but was herself lost after the attack.

The Ruth I (Master Einar Haugland) broke in two and sank after 20 minutes. Three men on watch below were killed. 17 survivors abandoned ship in a damaged lifeboat and 19 others on an improvised raft. All survivors were picked up a few hours later by the HMS Chelmer (K 221). On 12 April, they were transferred to the British rescue vessel Goodwin and landed at Gourock the next day.

 
On boardWe have details of 39 people who were on board


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