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17)NEW COLUMBIA U-68
Photo. www.photoship.co.uk
Built: 1920
Tonnage: 6,574 / 10,200 tons
Cargo: 5,500 tons of African produce, including 2500 tons of cotton, 1500 tons of copper, 600 tons of beer, 350 tons of palm oil, 350 tons of copra, 100 tons of kernels, 100 tons of rice and mail
Route: Matadi, Belgian Congo - Libreville, French Equatorial Africa - Lagos
Sunk 31 OCT 43 by U-68 on pos 04º 25’N 05º 03’E
0 Dead
84 Survivors
Launched as War Pageant for the Shipping Controller, completed in June 1920 as New Columbia for Elder Dempster Lines Ltd, Liverpool.
At 21.14 hours on 31 Oct 1943 the unescorted New Columbia (Master Frederick Bradley Kent) was hit in the foreship by one FAT torpedo from U-68 southwest of Bingerville, Ivory Coast. She sank by the bow after being hit in the engine room by a second FAT torpedo at 21.44 hours. The master, 54 crew members, ten gunners and 19 Kroomen were picked up by the British merchant Conakrian and landed at Lagos. Lauzemis thought after he had questioned the crew that he had sunk the Troillus.
By New Columbia (British Steam merchant) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net
