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The Loss of the Granville

The following is taken, with kind permission, from www.wrecksite.eu:
"The Panamanian flag freighter, SS Granville (ex-Wipunen, ex-Tabarka), was torpedoed by the German U-338 (Manfred Knizel) on March 12, 1943 at 1356 GCT while en route from New York to Iceland in Convoy SC 122, with 1300 tons of British Lend-Lease cargo and 2400 tons of U.S. Army and Navy general stores. In addition, there was 500 bags of U.S. Mail and an invasion barge atop #2 and #3 hatches. The ship´s complement consisted of 35 merchant crew, 11 U.S.

Naval Armed Guard and one passenger, a U.S. Army Lt. Colonel. Eleven (11 ) crew members and 2 Navy men lost their lives. Four of the crew lost were Americans. At 1356 GCT (1156 local time), a torpedo slammed into the port side at #2 hold starting a fire in the hold. As fate would have it, the engine room flooded as the watertight door betwe en the coal bunkers and fire room was not closed because coal was being transferred from the bunkers to the fire room. The ship broke in two pieces amidships and sank within 15 minutes. Abandon ship was ordered between 1200 and 1206 (ship´s time) in boats and rafts. The survivors were picked up about an hour later by HMS LAVENDER (K-60) and landed at Liverpool on March 23rd. Ten of the crew lost were from the Engine Department, most of them working in the engine room at the time of the explosion.
The 2nd Mate was rescued but died on the rescue ship and buried at sea."

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