Daily Event for June 27

The third patrol of the U-128 was her most productive, Kapitänleutnant Ulrich Heyse, sank five ships totaling over 35,000 tons. The last one was the twenty-three year old freighter Polybius on June 27, 1942. Ten minuets after being hit by a single torpedo, she sank stern first into the Caribbean Sea. Thirty-four survivors made it into the lifeboats, but sadly ten men were killed by the explosion. Within three days everyone had been rescued by several passing ships.

The U-128 was sunk less than a year later on May 17, 1943, but by then she had a new commanding officer, Kapitänleutnant Hermann Steinert, it was his only command. Ulrich Heyse was later awarded the Knights Cross and promoted to Korvettenkapitän. He made two more patrols with U-128, but never had another U-boat command, he survived the war and died in 1970.
© 2009 Michael W. Pocock
MaritimeQuest.com



Roll of Honor
In memory of those who lost their lives in
SS Polybius
"As long as we embrace them in our memory, their spirit will always be with us"

Name
Rate
Anderson, John
Able Seaman
Coluccio, Vincenzo T.
Ordinary Seaman
Eichler, Charles A.
Messman
Kaulakis, John
Fireman/Watertender
Kruger, Henry
Able Seaman
Mujica, Pedro
Oiler
Papamikes, Nicholas
Able Seaman
Smith, Edward
Fireman/Watertender
Watts, Roderick
Oiler
Wysocki, Nicholas
Able Seaman


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2005 Daily Event
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