World War IIMS Bonneville
MV Bonneville was on a journey in convoy as a commodore ship (leading ship in the convoy), loaded with 7000 ton general goods, ammunition and landing craft on deck. About 26 German U-boats followed the convoy and on the 9th of March 1943, Bonneville was torpedoed by the German uboat U-405 in the position 5848N, 2200W in rough seas. The waves filled up the lifeboats and many on board were thrown into the sea. Four men managed to board the boats again. Despite intensely emptying the boat of water it was still filled up by the rough seas. The four men saw light from the life vests of survivors, but they could not manage to get to them. Gunwale of the lifeboat was still underwater due to the tanks had cracked and in the end, the four men gave up continuing to empty the boat of water. One of the four men froze to death and not long after that gave two men up. The lone survivor in the boat was taken in by a rescue ship. Eight other survivors drifted in a lifeboat filled with water. This one capsized and five of the eight managed to get up on the vault. An hour later, one of them gave up and disappeared. The four others were four hours later taken in by a rescue ship. Most of the people on Bonneville jumped overboard in in a desperate attempt to save themselves. The six remaining crew on board threw a raft to the sea and jumped right after. Three of the men boarded it. In the twilight, one of the three men died. The remaining were saved by an American ship. Aside the 35 crew members, an British commodore with its staff with seve member were on the ship before the torpedo struck. Only seven men survived the sinking.
About MS Bonneville
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Nationality
Norway
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Built
1929
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Wrecked
09.03.1943
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Carrier
A. F. Klaveness & Co., Kristiania / Oslo
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Tonnage
8437 dvt
