Loss
On 4 February 1917 Mantola left London for Calcutta in India carrying 165 crew, 18 passengers, general cargo,[13] and 600,000 ounces of silver. Her Master was Captain David James Chivas, a member of the Chivas Brothers Scotch whisky family.[14][15]
On 8 February Mantola was in the Western Approaches, about 143 nmi west-southwest of Fastnet Rock, steaming at full speed and steering a zigzag course. SMU U-81 fired a torpedo at her, which hit her abreast of her bridge, and rupturing subsidiary steam pipes, and releasing clouds of steam.[11] Captain Chivas gave the order to abandon ship, with only himself, the Chief Engineer, and the wireless operator remaining aboard.[12] Seven of her lascar crew were killed, either when the torpedo exploded,[12] or because one of her lifeboats capsized while being launched (reports differ).
After about 90 minutes U-81 opened fire with her 105 mm deck gun from a range of 4000 yards. According to one account, it was in retaliation for the Chief Engineer and Radio Operator getting the wireless working, and transmitting an SOS signal.[12] According to other accounts, it was because a party from the lifeboats tried to reboard the ship.[11] A passenger in one of the lifeboats counted 47 rounds fired, during which time U-81 closed to a range of 200 to 300 yard from the ship.[12] Then sloop HMS Laburnum (1915) approached, so U-81 submerged and left the area.[11][12]
On the morning of 9 February Mantola was still afloat, so Laburnum tried to tow her, stern-first. However, the sea became rougher, and Laburnum made no headway, so Mantola was abandoned.[11] Soon afterward she sank at position 49.83778°N, -13.10333°W.[16]
The silver had war risk insurance, and the UK Ministry of Shipping paid £110,000 for the loss.[14]
