Varild
Norwegian Steam merchant
Photo courtesy of Norsk Maritimt Museum
| Name | Varild | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 1,085 tons | ||
| Completed | 1910 - A/S Bergens Mekaniske Verksteder, Bergen | ||
| Owner | Egil Næsheim A/S, Haugesund | ||
| Homeport | Haugesund | ||
| Date of attack | 24 Jan 1940 | Nationality:  Norwegian | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-23 (Otto Kretschmer) | ||
| Position | 59° 27'N, 0° 24'W - Grid AN 2658 | ||
| Complement | 15 (15 dead - no survivors) | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Drammen - Horten (22 Jan) - Sunderland | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Completed in July 1910 as Gaula for Kulkompagniet af 1871, Bergen. 1929 renamed Varild for Egil Næsheim A/S, Haugesund. | ||
| Notes on event | At 19.08 hours on 24 January 1940, U-23 fired a G7e torpedo at a small steamer and observed a hit amidships on the port side and the sinking of the vessel in 45 seconds about 40 miles east of Fair Isle. At 20.20 hours the day before, the U-boat had spotted the ship, but then two attacks failed because first the torpedo was stuck in the tube and a G7e torpedo fired at 22.13 hours became a circle runner. Its victim was very likely the unescorted and neutral Varild (Master David Humlebrekk) which was reported missing en route from Norway to the UK. | ||
| More info | |||
| On board | We have details of 15 people who were on board. | ||
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