On this day (30th October) WW2 Shipwreckollections
MV Brittany (1928-1942)
The MV Brittany was a British cargo ship built in 1928 by Mcmillan A. & Son Ltd. At the time of her sinking, she was owned by Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. Ltd.
On 30th October 1942, the MV Brittany was torpedoed by a German U-boat whilst on a voyage from Buenos Aires, Argentina to ‘The Mersey’ via Freetown, Sierra Leone. The MV Brittany was carrying a cargo of 7,132 tonnes of hides, rice and cotton on her voyage and sank off the coast of Madeira, Portugal.
Of a 57 strong-crew, 14 were lost at sea. However, the captain, 32 crew, seven gunners and three passengers were picked up by the British auxiliary patrol vessel HMS Kelantan.
The Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society provided the survivors with £138/18s worth of financial support – the equivalent of £6,315 today.
Photo credit: www.wrecksite.eu