Ships hit by U-boats


Sangro

Italian Steam tanker


We don't have a picture of this vessel at this time.


NameSangro
Type:Steam tanker
Tonnage6,466 tons
Completed1925 - Cantieri ed Officine Meridionali, Società Italiana per Costruzioni Navali & Meccaniche, Baia 
OwnerSocietà Anonima di Navigazione Italia, Genoa 
HomeportGenoa 
Date of attack6 May 1941Nationality:      Italian
 
FateSunk by U-97 (Udo Heilmann)
Position50° 42'N, 21° 22'W - Grid BE 1348
Complement? men (? dead and 8 survivors).
Convoy
RouteTenerife, Canary Islands (21 Apr) - UK 
CargoOil and grease 
History Completed in August 1925 
Notes on event

On 1 May 1941 the blockade runner Sangro was captured by the British ocean boarding vessel HMS Cavina in 44°36N/30°20W. She was then escorted to the UK by HMS Camito (F 77) (A/Cdr A.A. Barnet, RNR).

At 02.40 hours on 6 May 1941 HMS Camito (F 77) was hit aft of amidships by one torpedo from U-97 west-southwest of Cape Clear. The U-boat had spotted the two ships at 17.45 hours on 5 May and had problems to keep contact in heavy seas and bad visibility. The OBV was missed at 02.02 hours with a spread of two torpedoes and three minutes later with a stern torpedo before being hit, but continued at slow speed. U-97 then chased the tanker, which caught fire after being hit by one torpedo at 03.53 hours and afterwards returned to the first vessel. Heilmann thought that it is a Q-ship and left the badly damaged ship, which sank the next day in 50°15N/21°16W. Six officers and 22 ratings were lost. The survivors of both ships were picked up by HMS Orchis (K 76) (Lt H. Vernon, RNR) and landed at Greenock.

 
On boardWe have details of 18 people who were on board


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