SS Empire Heath

Empire Heath sailed from Belfast on 8th April 1942 arriving at Gibraltar on 20th April 1942 with a deck cargo of 28 Spitfires. She sailed again from Cardiff on 28th August 1942 arriving at Gibraltar on the 14th September 1942 with a deck cargo of 16 Spitfires and 2 Hurricanes. Empire Heath was north west of the small volcanic island of Trinidade whilst sailing from Victoria, Brazil to Loch Ewe for orders, via Freetown, with a cargo of iron ore. On 11 May 1944, Empire Heath was located by the German submarine U-129 and discovered to be sailing without an escort northeast of Rio de Janeiro. Initially, U-129 fired three torpedoes at her but all missed. Subsequently, at 23.00 hours, U-129 fired a FAT torpedo which hit and Empire Heath sank rapidly. The U-boat crew rescued Chief Steward Frederick Wakeham, one of the survivors and captured him for questioning. He was landed in Lorient on 19 July and taken to the POW camp Marlag und Milag Nord. Overall, the master, 46 crew members, one passenger and nine gunners were lost.[2] The wreck is located at 21.31S 29.50W.[3][4]