Merkur
Estonian Steam merchant
Photo courtesy of Sjöhistoriska Museet, Stockholm
| Name | Merkur | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 1,291 tons | ||
| Completed | 1913 - A. Vuijk & Zonen, Capelle an der Ijssel | ||
| Owner | J. Rang, Tallinn | ||
| Homeport | Tallinn | ||
| Date of attack | 30 Jun 1940 | Nationality:  Estonian | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-26 (Heinz Scheringer) | ||
| Position | 48° 26'N, 10° 58'W - Grid BF 1784 | ||
| Complement | 17 (4 dead and 13 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Lisbon (25 Jun) - Garston - Acton Grange | ||
| Cargo | Pit props | ||
| History | Completed in January 1913 as Dutch Yssel for NV Houtvaart (Vinke & Co), Rotterdam. 1936 sold to Estonia and renamed Merkur. | ||
| Notes on event | At 19.30 hours on 30 June 1940 the unescorted and unarmed Merkur (Master Verner Birk) was hit by one torpedo from U-26 and sank about 232 miles west of Ushant. Four crew members were lost. On 2 July, the survivors, eleven men and two women, were picked up from a lifeboat by HMS Gardenia (K 99) (LtCdr T.A.O. Ellis, RNR) in position 48°55N, 10°54W and landed at Greenock. | ||
| On board | We have details of 17 people who were on board. | ||
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