Egyptian freighter SS Radames sunk by U-103 off the Liberian coast on May 25th 1941

This propaganda sequence shows genuine footage of the sinking of SS Radames with footage of the crew of German U-Boat U-103, much of which was doubtless staged for the benefit of the camera.

U-103 was a Type IXB U-boat of the Kriegsmarine that operated during World War II. She was one of the most successful boats in the entire war, sinking 237,596 gross register tons (GRT) of Allied shipping in 11 patrols, in a career lasting more than four years.

Radames was originally completed in September 1903 as Dumbarton for SS Dumbarton Co Ltd (H. MacLean), Glasgow. In 1907 she was renamed Overdale for SS Overdale Co Ltd (Babtie & Co), Glasgow. In 1926 she was renamed Winslow for Watts, Watts & Co Ltd, London. In 1930 she was sold to Belgium and renamed Fernand Colignon for Armement Colignon SA, Antwerp. Finally in 1932 she was sold to Egypt and renamed Radames for Albert Klat, Alexandria.

At 16:31 on May 25th 1941 the unescorted Radames was hit in the stern by one torpedo from U-103 after being chased for about five hours. She sank slowly by the stern about 80 miles from Monrovia, Liberia. This was during U-103's fourth patrol and Radames was her 27th victim.