Wrecks List | ||||
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Total Records: 1 | ||||
Name | Nationality | Location | Date Lost | |
Heronspool | British | Fastnet rock Co Cork | 1939 | |
Heronspool : SS Heronspool | |||
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Owner | R . Ropner & Co West Hartlepool | ||
Flag | British | Builder | Wm.Gray & Co West Hartlepool |
Port | West Hartlepool | Build Date | 1929 |
Official No | 160759 | Material | Steel |
Tonnage nrt/grt | 5202 / 4928 / 3228 | ||
Ship type | Steam Ship | Dimensions | 421.2 | 54.2 | 27.2 |
Ships Role | Cargo Ship | Rigging Style | |
Super Structure | |||
Hull | |||
Machinery | |||
Wreck Location | 205 miles SW of the Fastnet rock Co Cork | ||
Date Lost | 13/10/1939 | Captain | Sydney Edward Batson |
Cause | Torpedoed and sunk | Crew Lost | |
Position | 50.13 N / 14.48 W | Passengers Lost | |
Google Map Location | |||
History | |||
S.S HeronspoolBRITISH SHIP SUNK
CREW SAVED BY U.S. LINER
The British steamer Heronspool (5,202 tons) was attacked and sunk yesterday by a U-boat. Her crew are reported all safe on board an American ship. The Heronspool was owned by the Pool Shipping Company, and her port of registry was West Hartlepool. The Heronspool was the first British ship to be sunk since the Glen Farg, a vessel of 876 tons, was attacked and sunk by a U-boat on October 4. The Times, Saturday, Oct 14, 1939
SHOTS AT U-BOAT
Captain Batson, of the Heronspool said that at 6 o'clock on Friday evening he saw the Emile Miguet being shelled about six miles distant, so he steered his ship away to the north-eastward. About 8 o'clock they heard an explosion and saw a column of water rise on the starboard beam. Half an hour later the submarine approached and signalled "What ship ? " As soon as we could make him out, Captain Batson said, we fired two shots at him, whereupon he dived. I hauled to the westward for two hours, then zigzagged. About 11 p.m. the submarine appeared in sight nearly aft. We quickly fired two shots at him in succession. He disappeared, but reappeared at midnight and fired a shot which exploded close to our starboard beam. Then we sighted him on the starboard quarter and fired at him. Then he appeared on the port quarter and again we fired After a while the submarine submerged again. but soon there was a violent explosion in the forepart of the Heronspool She had been torpedoed. Captain Batson continued:- Most of the damage to the President Harding was caused by a wave described as 100ft high which came in over her port side in the darkness of Tuesday night. It threw her over almost on her beam ends. M.Paul Van Zeeland, the former Prim Minister of Belgium, had been tossed about his cabin so severely that he was left unconscious. He suffered no permanent injury, but he said yesterday his body was covered with bruises. He was accompanied by Mme. Van Zeeland and their four children. The Times, Monday, Oct 23,1939
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Record Created on 09/11/2008 | |||
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