SS Biela

The Biela started life as War Mastiff, built by Short Bros, Pallion, Sunderland and completed in 1918 as a 5,298 ton steam merchant vessel for J. & C. Harrison, London. She was a B-type Standard British Ship.

The War Mastiff was one of 416 Standard Ships built for the British Government under the December 1916 New Ministries and Secretaries Act, which allowed for the appointment of a Shipping Controller with wide powers "to take such steps as he thinks best for providing and maintaining an efficient supply of shipping". This was in most part motivated by the loss of 2,479 British merchant ships and 670 fishing vessels during the First World War.

It was just five days before Christmas 1916 through the Merchant Shipbuilding Advisory Committee, that a shipbuilding standardization régime be adopted to simplify the production of hulls and engines for merchant vessels.

The method and design was simplified to the point that a large number of shipyards in Britain were soon in the production of these Standard British Ships. However, By the end of 1918, it was apparent that there were a surplus of merchant ships that needed to be sold off. The War Mastiff was one of twelve War vessels purchased by Lamport & Holt in 1919 and renamed Biela for their South American shipping service.

In January 1942, Biela left Liverpool sailing as an independent vessel attached to convoy ON-62 bound for Buenos Aires with general cargo. At some point mid-Atlantic, Biela detached from the convoy and turned due south.

A few minutes before midnight on February 14, 1942 she was sighted by U-98 commanded by Robert Gysae. U-98 made an attack run on the Biela which was reported from the Biela's radio operator:

1200: SSS from S. S. BIELA : 5298t. British cargo vessel : at position 42-35N; 45-30W : being pursued by submarine : Bearing 130°T. from Cape Race.

U-98 continued the pursuit until finally reporting a successful torpedo attack resulting in the sinking of the ship at quadrant square CC3675 (42.55N 45.40W) 400 miles SE of Cape Race.

This was the only sinking reported by U-98 on it's sixth active patrol. The boat departed under Robert Gysae from St. Nazaire on 18th Jan 1942 and returned to St. Nazaire on 27th Feb 1942 after more than five weeks on patrol.