Destroyer HMS Mahratta G23.
In Memory of HMS Mahratta G23.
They have no grave but the cruel sea,
No flowers lay at their head,
A rusting hull is their tombstone,
Afast on the ocean bed,
We shall not forget.
By Bill Welch (1941-1945 The Arctic Lookout Number 33 Winter 1998)
I would like to thank everyone that has helped me build up this site, lets hope more crew member photo's will come forward next year.
Please contact me at hoare63@yahoo.co.uk if you wish me to add any information that is missing or you have a photo of one of the crew members.
Please state HMS Mahratta in subject.
In Memory of David Lewis Morgan, D/KX528819. (Stoker 2nd Class), and all the crew of HMS Mahratta.
David Lewis Morgan D/KX 518819. Stoker 2nd Class, went to HMS Duke on the 22-6-1943 to 31-8-1943, he then went to HMS Drake on the 1-9-1943 to 11-10-1943 and then went on board HMS Mahratta on the 12-10-1943, the Destroyer sunk on 25-2-1944.
The Destroyer sunk at position 71,12N. 13.30E, Only 16 of the crew survived out of the 236 on board.
Convoy JW-57 was attacked on the 25th February 1944, off Norway.
The Destroyer HMS Mahratta, was sunk by U-956.
HMS Mahratta was hit and blew up at 2215. HMS Mahratta may have been hit by a T5 from U-956, whose firing time was 0007 German Summer time, which translates into 2207 GMT.
(U-990 fired a T5 Gant at 2055 German Summer time, which is 1855 GMT, that works out almost 4 hours off the time).
Laid Down; 18th August 1941.
Launched; 28th July 1942.
Completed; 8th April 1943.
Lenght; 362ft. Beam; 37ft. Drought; 10ft. Displacement; 1920 tons.
Main Armament;
Six 4.7in power operated gun, Four 21in torpedo tubes.
One 4in AA gun, Four 2 pdr pom-poms, Ten 20mm oerlikons.
30 depth charges.
Machinery; Geared turbines on two shafts, 48000shp, Max speed of 36 knots.
Duites;
Operation;
FJ, 2-6-1943.
FH, 8-6-1943.
Camera, 7-7-1943.
SF, 30-7-1943.
Governor, 26-7-1943.
Lorry or Lozry, 26-8-1943.
Sailed on Convoys;
FR, 20-10-1943 - 28-10-1943.
RA-54A, 1-11-1943 - 14-11-1943.
JW-54A, 15-11-1943 - 24-11-1943.
RA-54B, 26-11-1943 - 9-12-1943.
JW-56B, 22-1-1944 - 1-2-1944.
RA-56, 3-2-1944 - 11-2-1944.
JW-57, 20-2-1944 - 28-2-1944.
There was 17 survivors, were picked up by HMS Impulsive, but 1 sailor died shortly afterwards and was buried at sea.