Technical
general cargo vessel�-�steam�-� single screw
6,507 GRT -�10,540 DWT
465' x 58'2" x 27'3"
service speed 12.0 knots

At 16:08 the ship was spotted and U-124 changed course to intercept.� Four hours later the first torpedo was fired from under water.� The torpedo, however, missed and the freighter, which was now warned, changed course, went to full speed and commenced zigzagging while sending distress signals.� At dusk visibility was reduced and Schulz decided to surface for a second attack.� It took Schulz another three hours to obtain anew attack position.

At 23:02 CET a torpedo was fired which struck the ship amidships, right under the bridge.� The ship however stayed afloat.� A third torpedo was fired at 23:28 CET which hit the ship abaft the mast.� The ship still refused to sink.� Then, U-124's IWO, Mohr, saw lumber floating on the water and it was assumed that part of the ship's cargo probably was wood and that she therefore stayed afloat.� Schulz then decided upon an artillery attack and at 23:44 CET U-124 opened fire with the deck gun, shelling Marlene with 12 rounds of incendiary shells.

Soon the ship was afire but to everybody's surprise the flames ceased.� On 5 April at 00:05 CET a fourth torpedo was fired and finally the freighter slowly began to sink.� The Master and 46 crew landed at False Cape, Sierra Leone.� Thirteen crew were lost.

Thanks to Walter Janssens for extra information on this page.

Unless otherwise stated, all dates and times are from the German perspective and are given in CET.
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