During one of the routine crossings from Rosyth - Scapa Flow, HMS Astronomer was spotted and attacked by the German submarine U-58 . It happened June 1, 1940, in the area about 30 miles south-east of the Scottish town of Wick. Torpedo, fired just before midnight, about 23.48, hit the stern of HMS Astronomer, but the explosion caused only immobilise the ship. To help the damaged ship two armed British trawlers LEICESTER CITY HMS and HMS STOKE CITY were sent. Therefore there was possibility of towing and salvage the damaged ship, the commander of the U-boat, Kapitänleutnant Herbert Kuppisch, gave the order to finish off his victims. A torpedo was fired on the morning, June 2, at 03.18, but the British ship still remained floating on the surface of the sea. Only a third torpedo fired at the finally succeeded in the destruction and HMS Astronomer went down with load 3000 tons of various materials of war. Read more (Polish)
At 23.48 hours on 1 Jun, 1940, HMS Astronomer (Master John James Egerton) was hit in the stern by one G7e torpedo from U-58 30 miles southeast of Wick. At 03.18 and 04.43 hours on 2 June, the vessel was hit by two coups de grâce and sank about one hour after the last hit in position 58°02N/02°07'30W. Read more