Ships hit by U-boats


Manaar

British Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of Sjöhistoriska Museet, Stockholm

NameManaar
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage7,242 tons
Completed1917 - C. Connell & Co Ltd, Glasgow 
OwnerT. & J. Brocklebank Ltd, Liverpool 
HomeportLiverpool 
Date of attack6 Sep 1939Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-38 (Heinrich Liebe)
Position38° 28'N, 10° 50'W - Grid CG 5573
Complement70 (7 dead and 63 survivors).
Convoy
RouteLiverpool - Calcutta - Rangoon 
CargoGeneral cargo, including agricultural and government stores 
History Completed in August 1917 
Notes on event

At 06.00 hours on 6 Sep 1939 the unescorted Manaar (Master Campbell Shaw) was ordered to stop by U-38 with a shot across her bow about 70 miles southwest of Cape da Roca, but the ship began sending distress signals and fired back with her stern gun as the U-boat opened fire. After five hits on the vessel, killing seven crew members, the survivors abandoned ship in four lifeboats. At 07.20 hours, the U-boat fired a G7a torpedo that detonated prematurely in about 400 metres distance. Ten minutes later, a second coup de grâce was fired that hit the ship underneath the bridge, shortly thereafter followed by a second torpedo at about the same place, both without much effect. The ship then broke in two and sank after being hit by a third coup de grâce at 07.44 hours.

The master and 29 crew members were picked up by the Dutch steam merchant Mars and landed at Lisbon on 8 September. 16 crew members were picked up by the Portuguese steam passenger ship Carvalho Araujo and also landed at Lisbon. 17 other crew members were rescued by the Italian steam merchant Castelbianco.

 
On boardWe have details of 11 people who were on board


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