SS Corvus (1920)

Coordinates: 49°55′N 5°22′W / 49.917°N 5.367°W / 49.917; -5.367
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other ships with the same name, see SS Corvus.
History
Norway
NameCorvus
NamesakeCorvus
Operator
Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab
Port of registryBergen
Ordered1916
BuilderKjøbenhavns Flydedok & Skibsværft A/S, Copenhagen
Yard number141[1]
Launched23 December 1920[1]
CompletedJanuary 1921
Identification
  • Code Letters
    LDFH
FateSunk, 27 February 1945
General characteristics
TypeSteam merchant ship
Tonnage
Length241 ft 4 in (73.56 m)
Beam36 ft 2 in (11.02 m)
Depth16 ft 2 in (4.93 m)
Propulsion525
triple expansion
steam engine (Kjøbenhavns Flydedok & Skibsværft A/S)
Speed9 knots (17 km/h)
Crew25
NotesAll the above information, unless otherwise noted, was acquired from [3]

SS Corvus was a 1,317

Det Bergenske Dampskibsselskab of Bergen, which was attacked and sunk by two German U-boats in the Western Approaches of the English Channel
on 27 February 1945.

World War II

She spent the early part of 1940 plying between Norway and the

Halifax, Nova Scotia and New York City. During these voyages she carried various general cargoes, as well as palm kernels from Nigeria and lumber from North America.[3]

During 1942 and early 1943 she sailed in the areas around the

Convoy KMS16 commencing in June. She remained in the Mediterranean until her return to Liverpool in February 1944. After spending four months undergoing repairs, she returned to service around the British Isles in July, continuing until her final voyage.[3]

Final voyage

On 23 February 1945, Corvus departed

Convoy BTC 81 near Scarwater Lightship.[3]

At 10:15 BST on 27 February, the convoy was attacked by two German U-boats, U-327 and U-1018 about seven miles from Lizard Point, Cornwall (at 49°55′N 05°22′W / 49.917°N 5.367°W / 49.917; -5.367).[4] She was hit by a torpedo launched by U-1018 which ripped her starboard side open, causing her to develop a heavy list and sink within minutes,[3] resulting in the death of four of the freighter's Norwegian crew, the Latvian stoker,[5] a 16-year-old British cabin boy, Thomas Boniface,[6] and two of the Royal Navy gunners, Dennis Baker[7] and former professional footballer Charlie Sillett.[5][8]

Some of the crew had been able to launch a raft, while others had to jump overboard. Most of the survivors were picked up by the British steam merchant ship Baronscourt, one survivor by the Swedish steam ship Wallonia and landed in Falmouth for medical treatment of four injured survivors.[9]

The convoy escort ships immediately launched heavy counter-attacks. Less than two hours later, both U-1018 and U-327 were sunk by

RNR
.

References

  1. ^ a b "5605417". Miramar Ship Index. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Lloyd's Register, Steamer & Motorships" (PDF). Plimsoll Ship Data. Retrieved 24 February 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d e Lawson, Siri Holm (30 July 2008). "DS Corvus". Warsailors.com. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  4. ^ "SeaWaves Today in History February 27, 2009". www.seawaves.com. 27 February 2008. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  5. ^ a b "DS Corvus - crew list". www.warsailors.com. 30 July 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  6. ^ "Casualty Details (T.A. Boniface)". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
  7. ^ "Casualty Details (D.E. Baker)". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
  8. ^ "Casualty Details: C.T.Sillett". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  9. ^ Helgason, Guðmundur. "DS Corvus". German U-boats of WWII - uboat.net. Retrieved 22 February 2009.

External links

49°55′N 5°22′W / 49.917°N 5.367°W / 49.917; -5.367

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=SS_Corvus_(1920)&oldid=1090954530"