Posted by Visje visje@tref.nl on July 02, 2001.

On March 17 1943, the German submarine U-600 torpedoed the American merchantman "Irenee Du Pont" in convoy HX-229. She was finally finished off by U-91.

In US Navy Chronology, it is stated that some of the survivors (some 55 men) were rescued by the Dutch ship "Tekoa", but I don't have that ship listed as being Dutch. Is it possible that she was of different nationality, or that the author of this chronology mixed up the names ? Thanks in advance.

RESPONSES:

Posted by Siri siri@lawson.net on July 02.

Roger Jordan has a Tekoa listed in the "Great Britain, Dominions and Colonies" section under New Zealand Shipping Co., Ltd. London. Built 1922, 8689 gt. Could that be the one referred to?
---------------------------
Posted by Axel van Eesbeeck gemyala@netcologne.de on July 02.

Hallo Visje

The ship you are looking for was the dutch ship Terkoelei (ex. german Essen).
Terkoelei rescued 55 people and the destroyer HMCS Mansfield 16 People (1 died later) of the torpedoed Irénée du Pont.

6 of 26 people died,
It must be 6 of 26 man armed Guard died
1 of 9 passengers died,
6 of 49 man crew died by the sinking

The Irénée du Pont was sunk at 08:39 and the Terkoelei at 14:06 (U-631). (Both on 17.). The sinkung of the Terkoelei survived 61 people and 36 died. I don't how many of the 55 rescued people died in this sinking.

Hope this helps

Best regards
Axel van Eesbeeck
----------------------------
Posted by Visje on July 03.
Hi Axel,

I'm reading K.W.L. Bezemer "Geschiedenis van de Nederlandse Koopvaardij in de Tweede Wereldoorlog", which also deals with the history of the Dutch ship Terkoelei, the former German "Essen" of the Hapag. Terkoelei was assigned rescueship of the 10th (most starboard) column, but there is no mention of picking up survivors. The Captain of Terkoelei didn't put it in his report, according to Bezemer. Normally, the captain would include such a rescue. This is quite odd ;) Do you know what the convoynumber for Irenee Du Pont was ? Tx !
----------------------------
Posted by Siri on July 03.

I have HX 229 for both of them (like you said in your first post) - and further:
Irenee du Pont - cargo of 3200 tons oil, 5800 tons general, 24 dead (perhaps armed guard not included)
Terkolei also listed as sunk, by U-632 on March 17-1943, cargo of zinc, wheat and mail, 36 dead.
The Dutch Zaanland, sunk by U-758 on the same day, no casualties.
All others are also listed, let me know if you want them.

Siri
---------------------------
Posted by Axel van Eesbeeck on July 03.

Hallo Visje, Hallo Siri

Finally i found my book "Konvoi" (The story of the convoy SC-122 and HX-229) written by Martin Middlebrook in the cellar.

Siri is right, there was a ship Tekoa in convoy HX-229. It was a british refigerator ship. She rescued 146 people of sunken ships in the convoy. The ship survived the war and was broken up in 1970 as Kyokurei Maru.

Forget everything i wrote about Terkoelei.I corrected my database too. But i had the same information about the dutch ship like you and i thought it was a spelling mistake.

Sorry
Best regards
Axel van Eesbeeck
-----------------------------
Posted by Visje on July 03.
Siri and Axel,

Many thanks for your posts. It seems the compiler of the (otherwise excellent) US Navy Chronology made a small error.