British Steam merchant
Photo courtesy of the Allen Collection
Name Adviser
Completed 1939 - Lithgows Ltd, Port Glasgow
Owner T. & J. Harrison, Liverpool
Homeport Liverpool
Date of attack 15 Nov 1942 Nationality: British
Fate Damaged by U-178 (Hans Ibbeken)
Position 32° 03'S, 33° 52'E - Grid KZ 2385
Route Tamatave, Madagascar (31 Oct) - Durban (14 Nov) - Trinidad - New York - UK
Cargo Graphite
History Completed in April 1939
At 01.45 hours on 15 Nov 1942 the unescorted Adviser (Master John Thurston Ling) was hit by two torpedoes from U-178 about 200 miles southeast of Durban. The U-boat had spotted the ship at 12.00 hours the day before and chased her despite of an air attack at 14.23 hours and an unsuccessful attack with a spread of two torpedoes at 23.23 hours. The Germans observed how the crew abandoned the stopped and apparently sinking ship and left the area when they heard depth charges being dropped in some distance. However, the crew reboarded the badly damaged Adviser the following morning. The ship was taken in tow by two tugs and brought safely to port in spite of bad weather, arriving in Durban on 19 November, where she was repaired and returned to service in August 1943.
On board We have details of 27 people who were on board.