July 2, 1940: The unescorted transport ship Arandora Star was sunk by Kapitäinleutnant Günther Prien and his U-47. The former liner turned transport was sailing from Liverpool to St. John's, Newfoundland with over 1,200 German and Italian civilians interned when war broke out. The 15,000 ton ship was about seventy-five miles from Ireland when the attack from the U-47 hit. Soon after the torpedo hit a second explosion, probably the boiler, tore the ship in half and she went down. Several hours after the sinking the Canadian destroyer HMCS St. Laurent spotted the lifeboats and rescued the survivors. Those who survived were taken to Greenock, Scotland. The injured were taken to hospital and the rest were put aboard another ship, the Dunera and taken to Australia. In all about 800 were killed, including 144 of the crew and armed guards. |
