SHIPS HIT BRITAIN 240 * - D E F

29)EMPIRE KOHINOOR MoWT U-618

Empire Kohinoor seen as former Caboto. Photo www.uboat.net by State Library of New South Wales

Built 1919

Tonnage: 5,225 8,260 tons

Cargo: 6,000 tons of general cargo

Route: Alexandria - Capetown - Freetown - UK

Sunk 3 JUL 43 by U-618 on pos. 06º 20’N 16º 30’W

6 Dead

81 Survivors

Built as British steam tanker War Celt, completed February 1919 for Anglo Mexican Petroleum Co; 1919 renamed Italian Caboto for Soc. Veneziana di Nav. a Vap, Venice; converted to steam merchant; 1937 sold to Società Anonima di Navigazione Lloyd Triestino, Trieste.

On 25 Aug, 1941, the Caboto was scuttled at Bandar Shapour during the British Operation Countenance. Salved by Britain and renamed Empire Kohinoor by Ministry of War Transport (MoWT). 

On 2 Jul, 1943, the unescorted Empire Kohinoor (Master R. Black) was torpedoed and sunk by U-618 about 250 miles southwest of Freetown. Six crew members were lost. The master, 72 crew members and eight gunners were rescued. The first boat was rescued by the British destroyer HMS Wolverine (D 78) (Cdr J.P. Meney) and landed at Takoradi. The second boat was rescued by the British merchant Gascony and the third landed at Lumley Beach, Sierra Leone on 7 July. 

By https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/2971.html

FOLLOWING PAGES ON THE SAME ARTICLE

28)EMPIRE HEATH MoWT * U-129

30)EMPIRE MAHSEER MoWT U-160*

31)EMPIRE MARCH MoWT (RAIDER MICHEL)

32)EMPIRE NOMAD MoWT U-159