SS Shaftesbury

Steam merchant Vessel
Built by: Barclay, Curle & Co.
Commissioned 1924

Owned by Capper Alexander
Length: 370.6 ft.
Beam: 53.1 ft
Service Speed: 10 knots

4,284 tons

Nationality: British

 

 

Shaftesbury

SS Shaftesbury joined Convoy OS.33 from Milford Haven bound for Buenos Aires with a cargo of coal and was detached from the convoy on July 11, 1942 to make her own way to South America. On July 12, 1942, when she was south of the Azores she was attacked and sunk by U-116. The U-boat reported the position as grid reference DG 6257 (31.42N, 25.30W). HMS Folkestone picked up twenty-three survivors on July 24, 1942 in position 28.15N 22.15W who reported that other boats from Shaftesbury and Cortona were in touch to the NW. All 45 members of the crew were rescued but the Master (Uriel Eynon) was taken as a prisoner of war, which he spent as PoW No.786 in the Merchant Navy camp Milag Nord until it was liberated on April 28, 1945.

SS Shaftesbury was the only vessel ever to be sunk by U-116.