HMS Cheshire (F 18)
British Armed Merchant Cruiser
Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart
| Name | HMS Cheshire (F 18) | ||
| Type: | Armed Merchant Cruiser | ||
| Tonnage | 10,552 tons | ||
| Completed | 1927 - Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd, Govan, Glasgow | ||
| Owner | The Admiralty | ||
| Homeport | Liverpool | ||
| Date of attack | 18 Aug 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Damaged by U-214 (Günther Reeder) | ||
| Position | 41° 30'N, 19° 49'W - Grid CF 2569 | ||
| Complement | ? men (0 dead and ? survivors). | ||
| Convoy | SL-118 | ||
| Route | |||
| Cargo | |||
| History | Completed in July 1927 as the motor passenger ship Cheshire for Bibby Brothers & Co, Liverpool. On 29 Aug 1939, requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to the armed merchant cruiser HMS Cheshire (F 18) At 21.28 hours on 14 Oct 1940, HMS Cheshire (F 18) (Capt M.R. Bernard, Rtd, RN) was struck by one torpedo from U-137 (Wohlfarth) northwest of Ireland in 55°13N/13°02W. 220 crew members were taken off by HMCS Skeena (D 59) (LtCdr J.C. Hibbard, RCN) and HMS Periwinkle (K 55) (LtCdr P.G. MacIver, RNR) and the ship was towed to Belfast Lough where she was beached. The ship was later taken to Liverpool for repairs that took six months. On 9 Jun 1943, returned to the owner and then used by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) as troop transport. Post-war: In 1945 used as repatriation ship and returned to the owner on 5 Oct 1948. Broken up at Newport in Juli 1957. | ||
| Notes on event | At 18.52 hours on 18 Aug 1942, U-214 fired four aimed single torpedoes at convoy SL-118 from between the columns, heard detonations after 2 minutes 27 seconds, 3 minutes 10 seconds, 4 minutes 31 seconds and 4 minutes 37 seconds and heard three ships breaking up. Reeder claimed the sinking of four ships totalling 20.000 grt. In fact, one torpedo damaged HMS Cheshire (F 18), another sank the Hatarana and two torpedoes sank the Balingkar. | ||
| On board | We have details of 2 people who were on board. | ||
Attack entries for HMS Cheshire (F 18)
| Date | U-boat | Commander | Loss type | Tons | Nat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Oct 1940 | U-137 | Kptlt. Herbert Wohlfarth | Damaged | 10,552 | |
| 18 Aug 1942 | U-214 | Kptlt. Günther Reeder | Damaged | 10,552 | |
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