Daily Event for January 26


January 26, 1943 The Liberty ship SS Walter Camp was sunk by the U-532 in the Indian Ocean. Walter Camp was sailing unescorted with a full hold of military supplies including trucks, barges and truck bodies. Her voyage started in New York and was to end at Calcutta. After the first torpedo hit the ship she took on a bad list however, the crew the armed guards and the two passengers managed to evacuate the ship unharmed.

Ten minutes later the U-532 fired a second torpedo and the Walter Camp sank two minuets later. All seventy one people were picked up by the HMS Danae and safely landed at Aden on February 3.

© 2006 Michael W. Pocock
MaritimeQuest.com


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