Norlandia
American Steam merchant
Name | Norlandia | ||
Type: | Steam merchant | ||
Tonnage | 2,689 tons | ||
Completed | 1919 - Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, Manitowoc WI | ||
Owner | Merchants & Miners Transportation Co, Baltimore MD | ||
Homeport | Baltimore | ||
Date of attack | 4 Jul 1942 | Nationality: American | |
Fate | Sunk by U-575 (Günther Heydemann) | ||
Position | 19° 33'N, 68° 39'W - Grid DN 9697 | ||
Complement | 30 (9 dead and 21 survivors). | ||
Convoy | |||
Route | Antigua - San Juan, Puero Rico - Nuevitas, Cuba | ||
Cargo | Ballast | ||
History | Completed in October 1919 as Lake Galata for US Shipping Board (USSB). 1926 renamed Wyoming for Merchants & Miners Transportation Co, Baltimore MD. 1941 renamed Norlandia for Norlasco SS Co, New York, but later that year given back to Merchants & Miners Transportation Co, Baltimore MD. | ||
Notes on event | At 03.38 hours on 4 July 1942 the unescorted and unarmed Norlandia (Master Herbert Elvin Callis) was torpedoed by U-575 about 25 miles northeast of Cape Samana, San Domingo. The torpedo struck on the starboard side between the engine room and the #3 hatch. The explosion tore up the deck, destroyed the radio room, jammed the machinery and caused the ship to flood rapidly, sinking by the stern after 15 minutes. The 21 survivors among the crew of eight officers and 22 crewmen abandoned ship in two lifeboats and were later questioned by Heydemann, who expressed regret at having to sink an American ship and gave them a bottle of German brandy before leaving. He reported the ship erroneously as the Panamanian steam merchant Portland. One boat with 14 survivors landed after 18 hours at Samaná, Dominican Republic, while the other boat arrived 12 hours later. | ||
On board | We have details of 10 people who were on board. |
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