Ships hit by U-boats


Leiesten

Norwegian Motor tanker



NameLeiesten
Type:Motor tanker
Tonnage6,118 tons
Completed1930 - Sir W.G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Co Ltd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 
OwnerRafen & Loennechen, Tønsberg 
HomeportTønsberg 
Date of attack23 Jan 1942Nationality:      Norwegian
 
FateSunk by U-82 (Siegfried Rollmann)
Position45° 27'N, 43° 19'W - Grid BC 8335
Complement36 (6 dead and 30 survivors).
ConvoyON-56 (dispersed)
RouteManchester - Baton Rouge 
CargoBallast 
History Completed in November 1930. On 30 June 1941 the Leiesten in convoy EC-40 struck a mine off North Foreland and was damaged. No casualties. The ship was towed to London for repairs. 
Notes on event

At 13.40 hours on 23 January 1942 the unescorted Leiesten (Master Nils Jespersen), dispersed from the storm scattered convoy ON-56 on 16 January, was hit by two torpedoes from U-82 about 400 miles east-southeast of Cape Race. The explosions killed the chief engineer and four men on watch below, as well as injuring several others. The master ordered the second mate to take the injured into a lifeboat, while he himself remained on board with eleven others in an effort to save the ship, but the U-boat appeared and started shelling the vessel. The men jumped overboard and managed to get onto a raft, but the British messboy hesitated too long and was killed on board by the shelling. After 32 hours, all survivors were picked up by the Greek steam merchant Agios Georgios and taken to Halifax on 30 January.

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 36 people who were on board


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