Photo. http://www.tynebuiltships.co.uk/A-Ships/allende1928.html Courtesy of Richard Cox.
Built 1928
Tonnage 5,081 / 9150 tons
Cargo: 7,700 tons of general cargo including tea and jute in bales
Sunk 17 MAR 42 by U–68 in position 04º 00’ N 07º 44’ W
Route: Calcutta - Sandheads - Capetown - Freetown - UK
6 Dead
33 Survivors
At 21.03 hours on 17 March 1942 the unescorted Allende(Master Thomas James Williamson) was hit on the starboard side amidships by one torpedo from U-68 about 18 miles south of Cape Palmas, Liberia. Five crew members on watch below were lost. The master, 30 crew members and seven gunners abandoned ship in two lifeboats and were questioned by the Germans before the U-boat fired a coup de grâce at 22.28 hours.
The G7a torpedo hit aft and caused her to sink by the stern within five minutes. The survivors made landfall at Tabou, French Ivory Coast and were interned for four months by the Vichy French authorities at Bobo Dioulasso and Bamako. Two crew members died of illness during the internment and another shortly after being released.
By Allende (British Steam merchant) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net