Technical
general cargo vessel
steam
3,099 GRT

The unescorted and unarmed Ontario was ordered on 6 May to make it for the nearest port after the authorities had received a distress signal from the Alcoa Puritan when this ship was attacked by a U-boat (the same U-507). Ontario was proceeding on a zigzag course at 12 knots to comply with these orders when she was shelled by U-507 from 02:27 CET until 03:35 CET.

The U-boat attacked from the port quarter and the bridge wheelhouse and the mainmast were destroyed. Prior to the destruction, however, the crew had been able to send a distress signal.

All hands were able to abandon ship in three lifeboats. The burning ship was last seen at 04.40. All survivors were picked up by USS Onyx (PYC 5) at 09.30 that same day and put ashore at Burwood, Louisiana. A salvage crew went to look for the burning ship but apparently it had sunk. Her Master went down with his next command, San Blas

Thanks to Walter Janssens for extra information on this page.

Unless otherwise stated, all dates and times are from the German perspective and are given in CET.
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