26th February 1941
1:20am 26th February 1941 - Contact report received, single ship travelling ENE at slow speed. Interception was fairly easy, the contact was 72km SSW of our position. During pursuit the contact changed course once but we kept track via regular hydrophone sweeps. Contact was identified as a British Small Freighter, a single G7a was launched from tube number 2, at 7:35am the Torpedo struck the target under the forward deck.The freighter gradually slowed to a stop ( engine room flooded? ) and its bow sat low in the water, after 20 minutes observing the ship it looked like the crew had the flooding under control, although the merchant wasn't moving, it wasn't sinking either.
I decided that something must be done about this, had the boat swung around and a G7a was fired from the aft tube. At 7:56am the torpedo struck the target under the aft deck and it started to take on water very quickly.The merchant was on its way down at 8:01am after a series of large explosions tore sections away from the ship.
I decided that something must be done about this, had the boat swung around and a G7a was fired from the aft tube. At 7:56am the torpedo struck the target under the aft deck and it started to take on water very quickly.The merchant was on its way down at 8:01am after a series of large explosions tore sections away from the ship.
26th February 1941 @ 7:57am
SS James Cook (Small Freighter), 2231 tons. Cargo: Grain. Crew: 28. Crew lost: 22
SS James Cook (Small Freighter), 2231 tons. Cargo: Grain. Crew: 28. Crew lost: 22
