Farmsum
Dutch Steam merchant
Photo courtesy of wivonet.nl
| Name | Farmsum | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 5,237 tons | ||
| Completed | 1929 - A. Vuijk & Zonen, Capelle an der Ijssel | ||
| Owner | Stoomvaart Mij Oostzee NV (Vinke & Co), Amsterdam | ||
| Homeport | Amsterdam | ||
| Date of attack | 7 Dec 1940 | Nationality:  Dutch | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-99 (Otto Kretschmer) | ||
| Position | 52° 11'N, 22° 56'W - Grid AL 8473 | ||
| Complement | 31 (16 dead and 15 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | OB-252 (straggler) | ||
| Route | Blyth - Oban - Buenos Aires | ||
| Cargo | Coal | ||
| History | Completed in April 1929 | ||
| Notes on event | At 22.39 hours on 7 Dec 1940, U-99 fired a torpedo at the Farmsum (Master B. Jansma), a straggler from convoy OB-252, in heavy seas. The torpedo was a surface-runner and struck the ship above the waterline at the stern, blowing the stern gun overboard. A second torpedo was fired on the bow of the ship but also struck the stern. The next torpedo hit amidships and caused the ship to sink within three minutes. 19 survivors abandoned ship in lifeboats and were eventually picked up by HMS Ambuscade (D 38) (LtCdr R.A. Fell, RN) with severe signs of frostbite, four of them died. | ||
| On board | We have details of 31 people who were on board. | ||
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