[Peter Clare]

Elsa Essberger along with U 373 was attacked by Liberator AM924 D/120 on 11 January 1942. Following this attack it was learned from intelligence sources that the Elsa Essberger had arrived at El Ferrol in a damaged condition at mid-day on 12 January and was making every effort to discharge her cargo into small ships for transit to France (via Bayonne). She remained there for a little less that two months eventually breaking out during the night of 8 March. From then onwards she disappeared and was not seen again until 5 April, when from a PRU photograph of Bordeaux, she was identified lying alondside the Customs House Quay. By October 1942 she was being loaded with cargo of machine tools destined for Japan, and as Elsa Essberger was setting sail on 7 November, a heavy attack was made on Bordeaux by aircraft of Bomber and Coastal Commands..The ship was hit by bombs and cannon fire, being damaged to such an extent that she could not continue her journey. She was finally scuttled in the Gironde estuary in August 1944 as Allied troops approached Bordeaux.

Regards
Peter Clare