Battle of Bell Island

Battle of Bell Island
Part of the American Theater and the Battle of the St. Lawrence of World War II
DateSeptember 4 – November 2, 1942
Location
Result Indecisive
Belligerents
 Canada
 Newfoundland
 Germany
Commanders and leaders
Kapitän-Leutnant Rolf Ruggeberg
Kapitän-Leutnant Friedrich Wissmann
Werner von Janowski
Strength
SS Lord Strathcona
SS Saganaga
SS Evelyn B
SS Anna T
Flyingdale
SS Rose Castle
PLM 27
HMCS Drumheller
2 Fairmile fast motor boats
German submarine U-513
German submarine U-518
Casualties and losses
SS Lord Strathcona
SS Saganaga(29 killed)
SS Evelyn B
SS Rose Castle (28 killed)
PLM 27 (12 killed)
Spy captured

In 1942, the German U-boats attacked Bell Island two times which led to four ore boats sinking, and more than 60 men dead, making it one of the few places in the Dominion of Newfoundland raided during the Second World War. The Germans also tried to capture St. John's, the capital of Newfoundland.[1] These engagements are considered part of the larger Battle of the St. Lawrence.[citation needed] Bell Island is in Conception Bay, Newfoundland and the waters were part of an important Atlantic convoy route that allowed supplies to flow from the United States to its allies in Europe. Many ships brought supplies in these waters to Britain's troops, but many of them were cut off by the German U-boats. Later in the war, many other ships sunk which led to the death of more than 137 people.

  1. ^ Paul Collins. "Bell Island Sinkings". Retrieved Oct 28, 2019.