January 15, 1943: As a three ship convoy approached Tobruk the German submarine U-617 lay in wait. The Harboe Jensen, a Norwegian freighter, the Annitsa, a Greek freighter and their escort vessel the HMS Southern Isles, an armed trawler made an easy target. The U-boat fired four torpedoes at the oncoming ships scoring two hits on each of the freighters. Both ships sank in short order.

The Harboe Jensen had been used on the Alexandria to Tobruk route since the end of 1941 and had been attacked repeatedly by German aircraft. Once being damaged badly enough to be laid up for some months. She was a very battle weary ship by 1943.

When the torpedoes struck the crews began to abandon the doomed ships. However the Harboe Jensen sank so quickly that only seven men managed to jump ship the other eighteen, including the captain died with the ship. Those who did make it into the water had to cling to an overturned raft and other floating debris since no boats could be launched. Six of the seven survivors managed to right the raft and get out of the water.

The situation on the Annitsa was far better than that of the Harboe Jensen. Thirty three of her crew got off in time but sadly one man died. Two of the survivors of the Annitsa were picked up by the survivors in the raft while the rest were rescued by the escorting vessel. Those on the raft and one man, the seventh survivor from the Harboe Jensen, who was found clinging to a plank were also picked up by the HMS Southern Isles.

The U-617 survived until September 12, 1943 when she was attacked by British aircraft. The sub was grounded but was destroyed by gunfire from British and Australian ships.

© 2006 Michael W. Pocock
MaritimeQuest.com