Ships hit by U-boats


Lochgoil

British Motor merchant



Photo from City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 447-2413

NameLochgoil
Type:Motor merchant
Tonnage9,462 tons
Completed1922 - Harland & Wolff Ltd, Govan, Glasgow 
OwnerRoyal Mail Lines Ltd, London 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack6 Oct 1939Nationality:      British
 
FateDamaged by U-32 (Paul Büchel)
Position51° 24'N, 4° 00'W - Grid AM 9865
Complement? men (0 dead and ? survivors).
Convoy
RouteNewport - Vancouver 
CargoGeneral cargo, including AA guns 
History Completed in December 1922

The badly damaged Lochgoil was taken over by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), rebuilt in 1940 as CAM ship Empire Rowan (9545 grt) and returned to service in July 1941. On 27 Mar 1943, the ship was in convoy KMS-11 and torpedoed by an Italian SM79 aircraft north of Philippeville in 37°16N/06°54E. She was beached northwest of Bone and declared a total loss. On 8 Jan 1951, the wreck blew up due to unknown reason, but it is believed that unofficial salvage work caused the cargo of ammunition to explode. 
Notes on event

At 16.20 hours on 6 Oct 1939 the Lochgoil struck a mine laid on 17 September by U-32 about five miles off Scarweather Light Vessel in the Bristol Channel. She was run aground in Mumbles Bay, salvaged on 28 November and repaired at Swansea.

 


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