U-boat rammed by British tanker

[Chiad Fhear]

This is one for our German cousins ...

The attached Obituary mentions the ramming of a German submarine by a British Tanker for which the Captain of the Tanker was awarded the D.S.O. (Distinguished Service Order) in June 1917.

A colleague has suggested to me that German military records from the Great War may have details of this event and I would appreciate some help in finding out more.

Vielen Dank

Chiad Fhear

[Flattybasher9]

The U-boat was the U 46.

https://uboat.net/boats/u46.htm

https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/3205.html

Malky

[Chiad Fhear]

Hi Malky

Thanks for your quick response    However, it couldn't have been the U-46 as it wasn't even built then!  Not sure if the Captain of it would even have been born 

The date in question is 1917 - World War 1  Captain Murray died in March 1929.

Cheers

Chiad Fhear

[davecapps]

Hi

Browse through the years 1915-1918
I couldn't find anything

Dave
https://www.deutsche-schutzgebiete.de/marine_1915.htm

[seaweed]

Bit of a specialist question. I would make a post on the WW1 forum at uboat.net.
https://uboat.net/forums/list.php?23
Alternatively, I could ask Michael Lowrey, The WW1 moderator at uboat.net to see if he has anything on this ramming.
If the above two actions do not reveal the name of the merchant vessel,I would get hold of his MN service career records from Lloyd's Captains Register available from London Metropolitan Archives.
This should tell you what vessel/s he was on board around this time.
Then a double check with the vessels logbook which should give a narrative of the incident.

[Flattybasher9]

I suspect that two stories have been confused with one another. One from WW1 and the other as posted, from WW11.

Honours for the Mercantile Marine.

30437 - 18 DECEMBER 1917

..... in recognition of zeal and devotion to duty shown in carrying on the trade of the country during the War:

To be a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order.

Capt. George Badenoch Murray (Lieut., R.N.R.).

Ch. Offr. James Martin (Lieut., R.N.R.).

Malky

Strange one, I have seen the other post and it's contents.
 

[John915]

Good evening,

I can fi d only 4 sunk by rammimg by vessels other than RN of some sort.

U49 rammed by SS British Transport

U93 rammed by SS Brainiel

UB78 rammed by Queen Alexandra

U103? rammed by RMS Olympic

There are quite a no though sunk or missing through unknown reasons so could be one of those.

John915

[TreeSpirit]

This does not answer your question, but I thought I’d still mention it:

On George Badenoch Murray’s Royal Navy service file (National Archives) only one ship is mentioned: the Baynyassa
There is enough online for this ship e.g.:
https://books.google.com.au/books?id=LoaVmYnm7T0C&dq=Baynyassa+submarine&q=Baynyassa#v=snippet&q=Baynyassa&f=false
https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?135367


But the more important one is:
 “CHAPTER X - THE INTENSIVE SUBMARINE CAMPAIGN (III) - July 1917 November 1918
…
In the last week of July, the Baynyassa (4,937 tons; master, Mr. G. B. Murray), the Livonia (1,879 tons; master, Mr. H. G. Orchard), and the Devona (3,779 tons; master, Mr. D. R. Murray), who had been in action already on June 20th, all turned the tables on their attackers by the accuracy of their gunfire”
Source: http://www.naval-history.net/WW1Book-MN3b.htm

Sylvia

[TreeSpirit]

Just something I noticed:
The newspaper article mentions that he got his 1917 DSO for ramming a U-boot, but I can't find that anywhere else!
He seems to receive his DSO for "Honours for the Mercantile Marine"and not for "Honours for Services in Action with Enemy Submarines" like some others (see: http://www.naval-history.net/WW1NavyBritishLGDecorationszzDSO.htm).
On his "Royal Naval Reserve: Officers' Service Record" it isn't mentioned either, just the zeal and devotion bit. I would have expected something so important to have been mentioned on this record.

Sylvia