Harpenden
British Steam merchant
Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart
| Name | Harpenden | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 4,678 tons | ||
| Completed | 1930 - Bartram & Sons Ltd, South Dock, Sunderland | ||
| Owner | J. & C. Harrison Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 11 Sep 1940 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Damaged by U-28 (Günter Kuhnke) | ||
| Position | 55° 34'N, 15° 56'W - Grid AL 6369 | ||
| Complement | ? men (1 dead and ? survivors). | ||
| Convoy | OA-210 | ||
| Route | Hull - St.Lawrence | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | On 19 Nov 1940, the Harpenden was taken to Greenock and was rebuilt as Empire Stour (4696 tons) for the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT), but still managed by J. & C. Harrison Ltd. 1946 sold to India and renamed Bharatjal for Bharat Line Ltd, Bombay. 1957 renamed Al Riyadh for Linea Adriatica Gulfo Perso, Costa Rica and put under Liberian flag. 1958 renamed Spetsai Patriot for Cia. Maritima di Isola Spetsia, Costa Rica, still under Liberian flag. 1963 scrapped in Split. | ||
| Notes on event | Between 03.26 and 03.28 hours on 11 Sep 1940, U-28 fired torpedoes at convoy OA-210 and observed hits on two ships and heard a detonation on a third. However, the Maas was sunk and the Harpenden severily damaged. The Harpenden was taken in tow and arrived five days later at the Clyde, where she was beached in Kilchattan Bay. | ||
| On board | We have details of 3 people who were on board. | ||
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