The SS Hydrus was a cargo ship that served during World War II. Built in 1919, it was originally named the SS West Conob and operated by the USSB. The ship was transferred to the British Ministry of War Transport in 1941 and renamed the SS Hydrus. It served in the Atlantic and Mediterranean during the war, carrying various cargoes such as grain, coal, and military supplies. In 1943, the SS Hydrus was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine off the coast of Algeria. The ship's crew managed to abandon the vessel before it sank, with some survivors being rescued by a British destroyer. The sinking of the SS Hydrus resulted in the loss of several lives. The SS Hydrus is remembered as one of the many merchant vessels that played a crucial role in supporting the war effort during World War II. Its sinking serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers faced by merchant mariners during the conflict. The ship's history highlights the important but often overlooked contributions of merchant ships in sustaining Allied forces and supply lines during wartime.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.