SS Port Nicholson-- Part 2

The Port Nicholson sailed from Halifax in June 1942 for Wellington (NZ?) in Convoy XB25, a route that ran from Halifax to Boston. It was carrying a cargo of 1600 tons of auto parts and 4,000 tons of military stores. (Whether it was carrying the treasure would probably have been kept secret.)

What they didn't know was that the U-87 was tracking the convoy. On a very stormy 16 June 1942, the submarine fired two torpedoes. One the Germans thought missed, but the other hit something, but they didn't know what ship.

It was the SS Port Nicholson. The first hit in the engine room and second on the stern. The ship began sinking immediately and the crew abandoned ship and were picked up by the Royal Canadian corvette Nanaimo. The ship did not sink immediately and was still afloat at dawn so it was reboarded to see if it could be saved. The storm worsened and the ship began sinking rapidly. The boarding crew left, but one of their boats were overturned and two drowned.

Worth a Try. --GreGen