https://www.naval-history.net/Maps1939-08RNStations.GIF
Photo. www.photoship.co.uk
Built: 1921
Tonnage: 5,961 / 10,125 tons
Cargo: 39 South African Defence troops and 800 mules
Route: Durban - Karachi
Sunk 3 MAR 43 by U-160 on pos. 32° 47'S 30° 48'E
38 Dead
88 Survivors
The steamship Nirpura with 737 horses, mules and donkeys on board was steaming in convoy from Durban on March 3rd, 1943, when she was torpedoed by U-160 off East London. The attack took place during darkness but the vessel did not sink until daybreak, when she broke in two. 38 men from the Nirpura (Master Thomas George Hodgkinson) were lost and 88 (including the master) were picked up by the SAAF crash launch R-8 and landed at Durban.
By Nirpura (British Steam merchant) - Ships hit by German U-boats during WWII - uboat.net