Hektoria
British Whale factory ship
Photo courtesy of Vestfold Fylkesmuseum
| Name | Hektoria | ||
| Type: | Whale factory ship | ||
| Tonnage | 13,797 tons | ||
| Completed | 1899 - Harland & Wolff Ltd, Belfast | ||
| Owner | Hector Whaling Ltd, London | ||
| Homeport | London | ||
| Date of attack | 12 Sep 1942 | Nationality:  British | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-608 (Rolf Struckmeier) | ||
| Position | 48° 55'N, 33° 38'W - Grid BD 2744 | ||
| Complement | 86 (1 dead and 85 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | ON-127 (straggler) | ||
| Route | Liverpool (4 Sep) - New York | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Completed in July 1899 as steam passenger ship Medic (11985 grt) for White Star Ltd (Oceanic Steam Navigation Co), Liverpool. In August 1899 she made her maiden voyage from Liverpool to Sydney via Capetown and on her return voyage carried Australian soldiers and horses to South Africa for Boer War service. During World War I, the ship remained in commercial service due to her large frozen meat capacity, although she was operated under the Liner Requisition Scheme for two years. In June 1928 sold to Norway and converted by Grayson, Rolls & Clover Docks, Birkenhead, to the whale factory ship Hektoria for N. Bugge, Tønsberg. 1932 sold to Britain to Hector Whaling Ltd, London. | ||
| Notes on event | At 01.05 hours on 12 September 1942, U-211 (Hause) attacked convoy ON-127 southwest of Cape Clear and damaged the Hektoria with two torpedoes and the Empire Moonbeam with one. Both vessels were later sunk by coups de grâce by U-608. The Hektoria (Master Frederick Arthur Gjertsen) was sunk by U-608 at 03.51 hours on 12 September. One crew member was lost. The master, 76 crew members and eight gunners were picked up by HMCS Arvida (K 113) (Lt A.I. MacKay, RCNR) and landed at St. John’s on 15 September. | ||
| On board | We have details of 11 people who were on board. | ||
Attack entries for Hektoria
| Date | U-boat | Commander | Loss type | Tons | Nat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Sep 1942 | U-211 | Kptlt. Karl Hause | Damaged | 13,797 | |
| 12 Sep 1942 | U-608 | Oblt. Rolf Struckmeier | Sunk | 13,797 | |
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