Pericles

Built by: Gotaverkena A/B, Gothenburg   Completed: 1936

Owner: D/S A/S Eikland

Tonnage: 8324 grt, 4991 nett, 12,740 dwt

Length: 463.7 feet

Beam: 59.2 feet

Draught: 35.9 feet

Machinery: Diesel engines by builder

In Admiralty Service( Royal Fleet Auxiliary) from 1941

This ship was stationed at Suda Bay, Crete

Pericles had arrived at Suda Bay at 11:30 hrs on the 15 March 1941, and was used as a replenishing oiler for Allied warships there.

Early in the morning of 26 March 1941, Italian midget submarines launched an attack on the ships in Suda Bay, HMS York and a tanker was lost, whilst Pericles was badly damaged. 

The ship had just finished replenishing HMS Coventry at 05:10 hrs, when an air raid warning was given, the ship was struck by a bomb in No 2 Starboard wing tank, the bomb penetrated No 3 centre tank and ended up in No 2 Port tank.  Oil gushed out of the damaged tanks and the pump room became partially flooded, and she listed about 40 degrees to Starboard..

The majority of the crew abandoned ship in the Starboard lifeboat, the rest of the crew managing to escape in a life raft, which was rescued by the lifeboat.

The ship appeared to settle, and the Captain and a number of the crew re-boarded and opened the Port tank valves, the ship straightened and the rest of the crew then returned.

On the 28 March RFA Cherryleaf came alongside and proceeded to pump out the Pericles’s cargo, returning again on the 4th April to pump out the remaining fuel.

When the British evacuated Crete, Perciles was ordered to Port Said.  She departed Suda Bay on the 11th April, escorted by HMS Moonstone, however on the 12 April heavy weather developed and at 08:30 the next morning, about 35 miles off Alexandria, with her engines stopped, the crew abandoned the ship again and were picked up by HMS Grimsby.  Shortly afterwards the ship broke in two, and whilst still afloat, was sunk by gunfire from HMS Grimsby.

The crew of 30 Norwegian, 6 Greek and 2 Danish seamen survived without casualty.