- DUTCH SHIPS LOST/DAMAGED/CAPTURED
10)COLOMBIA U-516*
https://www.naval-history.net/Maps1939-08RNStations.GIF
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Photo. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/MS_Colombia_%281934%29.jpg
Built 1930
Tonnage 10,782 / 6,648 Tons
Route: East London – Simonstown
Sunk 27 FEB 43 by U-516 in pos 33° 36'S 27° 29'E
8 Dead
318 Survivors
In early 1941, the motor passenger ship Colombia was requisitioned by the Royal Netherlands Navy and converted to a submarine tender. The ship left for the Far East in early 1942.
The Colombia (Comdr J.L.K. Hoeke) was en route to Simonstown to dock, escorted by HMS Genista (K 200) and several RAF aircraft.
At 11.41 hours on 27 Feb 1943, U-516 fired a spread of three torpedoes from a distance of 1500 metres on a ship near Simonstown, which was identified as a passenger-cargo ship of the Blue Star Line of 10.000 tons. Four minutes later, one torpedo struck the Colombia at #2 hold, just before the bridge and a large column of water arose beside the ship, while the deckplanks were thrown in all directions. All hands immediately abandoned ship, apparently without any casualties and the ship sank after ten minutes. A headcount showed that eight men were missing.
Almost 60 survivors in one whaleboat were picked up by a RAF air-sea-rescue launch. The corvette initially launched a counter-attack, but she returned soon and picked up the remaining survivors.
By Colombia (Dutch Submarine tender) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net
