Photo. www.photoship.co.uk
Built 1927
Tonnage: 5,236 / 8,050 tons
Cargo: 6,768 tons of general cargo, including oil seeds, 3,000 tons of manganese ore, rubber and copra.
Route: Abadan - Mormugao - Takoradi - Freetown - UK
Sunk 30 APR 43 by U-515 on pos. 07.15N, 13.49W.
1 Dead
77 Survivors.
Completed in April 1927 as Arabistan, 1929 renamed Bandar Shahpour.
On 21 Jan, 1941, Bandar Shahpour in convoy OB-275 collided with the Norwegian steam merchant Korsfjord (1620 grt) 20 miles off Butt of Lewis in 60°40N/12°09W. She sustained minor damage and returned, whereas Korsfjord sank with the loss of two men.
At 22.56 hours on 30 Apr, 1943, U-515 fired two stern torpedoes at the convoy TS-37 about 130 miles southwest of Freetown and observed hits after 58 and 59 seconds. The first ship was seen sinking fast and another broke in two after being hit under the bridge. At 22.57 hours, one torpedo was fired, which struck a freighter amidships after 52 seconds. A fourth torpedo fired one minute later struck another freighter amidships, which exploded.
At 22.59 hours, a fifth torpedo was fired and struck after 1 minute a ship, which immediately sank. A sixth torpedo fired at 23.01 hours hit a freighter after 1 minute 30 seconds, but the sinking could not be observed. Henke claimed five ships of 31.000 grt sunk and another of 6000 grt probably sunk. However, only four ships were hit and sunk, the Corabella, Bandar Shahpour, Kota Tjandi and Nagina.
One passenger from the Bandar Shahpour (Master Wilfred Allinson Chappell) was lost. The master, 61 crew members, eight gunners and seven passengers were picked up by HMS Birdlip (T 218) (Lt. E.N. Groom, RNR) and landed at Freetown the next day.
By Bandar Shahpour (British Steam merchant) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net