Hull#

Name

Built

Service

Owner

F 30

Forfar

1920

1939-40

Canadian Pacific Steamships Ltd, Montreal

On 4 Sep 1939 the passenger ship Montrose of the Canadian Pacific Steamships Ltd, Montreal was requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to the armed merchant cruiser HMS Forfar.

At 05.46 hours on 2 Dec, 1940, the HMS Forfar (F 30) (Capt N.A.C. Hardy) was hit by one torpedo from U-99 after she had just left the convoy HX-90 bound for OB-251 about 500 miles west of Ireland. She finally sank at 06.57 hours, after four additional torpedo hits at 06.39, 06.43, 06.50 and 06.57 hours. The master, 35 officers and 136 naval ratings were lost. Three officers and 18 naval ratings were rescued by the Canadian destroyer HMCS St. Laurent (H 83) (Cdr H.G. De Wolf), the British destroyer HMS Viscount (D 92) (LtCdr M.S. Townsend OBE DSC) and the British merchant Dursley and landed at Oban. (54⁰35'N - 18⁰18'W)