Ships hit by U-boats


Duffield

British Motor tanker



Photo courtesy of Danish Maritime Museum, Elsinore

NameDuffield
Type:Motor tanker
Tonnage8,516 tons
Completed1938 - Odense Staalskibsværft ved A.P. Møller, Odense 
OwnerHunting & Son Ltd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 
HomeportNewcastle 
Date of attack9 Apr 1941Nationality:      British
 
FateSunk by U-107 (Günter Hessler)
Position31° 13'N, 23° 24'W - Grid DH 4416
Complement53 (25 dead and 28 survivors).
Convoy
RouteCuraçao - Gibraltar 
Cargo11,700 tons of fuel oil 
History Completed in March 1938 
Notes on event

At 19.20 hours on 9 April 1941 the unescorted Duffield (Master Mariston Manthorpe) was hit by two stern torpedoes from U-107 west-southwest of Madeira. The tanker caught fire, developed a list and stopped, but the flames went out after one minute and the crew managed to get her underway again at 12 knots. The U-boat had to work hard to overtake the fleeing ship for another attack and eventually hit the Duffield amidships and in the bow with two G7e torpedoes at 03.08 and 03.30 hours, but only the fifth torpedo, fired 15 minutes later, hit the engine room and caused the tanker to break up and sink in flames in 31°13N/23°40W. 25 crew members were lost. The master, 25 crew members and two gunners landed at Hierro Island, Canary Islands.

 
On boardWe have details of 27 people who were on board


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