Ships hit by U-boats


HMS Forfar (F 30)

British Armed Merchant Cruiser



HMS Forfar under her former name Montrose. Photo courtesy of State Library of New South Wales

NameHMS Forfar (F 30)
Type:Armed Merchant Cruiser
Tonnage16,402 tons (one of the largest ships sunk).
Completed1922 - Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Govan, Glasgow 
OwnerThe Admiralty 
HomeportLondon 
Date of attack2 Dec 1940Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-99 (Otto Kretschmer)
Position54° 35'N, 18° 18'W - Grid AL 6581
Complement193 (172 dead and 21 survivors).
ConvoyHX-90
Route 
Cargo 
History Laid down as steam passenger ship Montmorency, completed in March 1922 as Montrose for Canadian Pacific Steamships Ltd, Montreal. On 4 Sep 1939, requisitioned by the Royal Navy as armed merchant cruiser HMS Forfar (F 30). The conversion was completed in November 1939 and the ship was assigned to the Northern Patrol. 
Notes on event

At 05.46 hours on 2 Dec 1940, HMS Forfar (F 30) (Capt N.A.C. Hardy, RN) was hit by one torpedo from U-99 after she had just left convoy HX-90 bound for OB-251 about 500 miles west of Ireland. She finally sank at 06.57 hours, after four additional torpedo hits at 06.39, 06.43, 06.50 and 06.57 hours. The master, 35 officers and 136 naval ratings were lost. Three officers and 18 naval ratings were rescued by HMCS St. Laurent (H 83) (Lt H.S. Rayner, RCN), HMS Viscount (D 92) (LtCdr M.S. Townsend, OBE, DSC, RN) and the Dunsley and landed at Oban.

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 180 people who were on board


If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.

Return to Allied Ships hit by U-boats