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SHIPS SUNK LADDEN WITH PLANES IN THEIR DECKS - PRECIOUS CARGO LOST

15)K. G. MELDAHL U-181



https://www.naval-history.net/Maps1939-08RNStations.GIF




Photo. www.uboat.net


 


Built: 1938


Tonnage: 3,799 / 7,260 Tons


Cargo:  Government and general cargo, including 750 tons of ammunition and aircraft in crates as deck cargo 


Route: New York - Port of Spain - Capetown - Bombay 


Sunk  10 Nov 1942 by U-181 on pos. 34° 59'S 29° 45'E


2 Dead


31 Survivors


At 08.27 hours on 10 Nov 1942 the unescorted K.G. Meldahl (Master Torjus Emil Johnsen) was hit on the starboard side in the engine room by one G7a torpedo from U-181 and sank after 9 minutes about 160 miles southeast of East London, South Africa. The ship had been missed with a G7a torpedo at 02.03 hours and again with a spread of two stern torpedoes at 02.42 hours. The U-boat was then noticed and needed 5 hours to get into a favorable attack position again.


Two men died on watch below. The master, 27 crew members and two gunners abandoned ship in three lifeboats and were questioned by the Germans. The boats were later spotted by an aircraft which directed a South African minesweeper to their position. The survivors were picked up three days after the sinking and taken to Port Elisabeth.


By www.uboat.net


 

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