SS Thurso
SS Thurso
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| History | |
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 United Kingdom
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| Name: | SS Thurso |
| Owner: | Ellerman's Wilson Line |
| Builder: | S.P. Austin & Son Ltd, Sunderland |
| Yard number: | 304 |
| Completed: | 1919 |
| Renamed: |
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| Homeport: | Hull |
| Identification: | Officlal Number: 144022 |
| Fate: | Sunk on 15 June 1942 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 2,436 tons |
| Length: | 303 ft 2 in (92.4 m) |
| Beam: | 43 ft (13.1 m) |
| Draught: | 20 ft 8 in (6.3 m) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) |
| Crew: | 36 |
SS Thurso was a cargo steamship operated by Ellerman's Wilson Line. Thurso was built in 1919 by S. P. Austin & Sons in Sunderland as the War Bramble for the Shipping Controller. Displacing 2,436 tons she had a speed of 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph). She was sold to Ellerman Lines while still building and remained with them until lost in the Second World War.
Under Master William Waldie, Thurso was part of Convoy HG 84 which had left Lisbon for Liverpool, and called at Gibraltar on 9 June to join with the 36th Escort Group under the command of Captain "Johnnie" Walker.
"SS Thurso left Gibraltar on the 9th June about 1800, taking up position No. 63 in convoy H.G.84. It was a fine night, with good visibility; the wind was south easterly, force 2 and there was a slight swell after things had quietened down."
Thurso carried 850 tons of cork, general cargo, and 1,500 bags of mail for German Prisoners of War in Britain. She had a crew of 36 and six gunners.
"She was armed with a 4", .12 pdr., 2 Hotchkiss, 2 twin marlins, 2 strip Lewis guns, P.A.Cs. and kites. The Confidential books, which were also in a weighted bag in the wireless room went down with the ship. Degaussing was on."
At 00.58 and 00.59 hours on 15 June 1942 the U-552, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Erich Topp attacked convoy HG84 sinking three ships, the Etrib,Pelayo and Slemdal.
"We had received no warning of submarines being in the vicinity and consequently did not know that danger was imminent until 0100 on June 15th when the 2nd officer reported that the Norwegian tanker Slemdal, which was in position 62, had been torpedoed on the starboard side. He had actually seen the flash from this torpedo. I immediately went on to the bridge, I stayed for a short while, watching the snowflakes being fired. I understand that the Etrib was torpedoed shortly before the Slemdal , but I knew nothing of this and nobody appears to have seen anything."
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Wikipedia