Ships hit by U-boats


Vidar

Danish Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of Danish Maritime Museum, Elsinore

NameVidar
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage1,353 tons
Completed1915 - Burmeister & Wain´s Maskin & Skibsbyggeri A/S, Copenhagen 
OwnerDet Forenede D/S (DFDS), Copenhagen 
HomeportEsbjerg 
Date of attack31 Jan 1940Nationality:      Danish
 
FateSunk by U-21 (Wolf-Harro Stiebler)
Position58° 39'N, 2° 00'E - Grid AN 4245
Complement34 (16 dead and 18 survivors).
Convoy
RouteGrimsby - Tyne - Esbjerg 
CargoSteel bars 
History Completed in May 1915 
Notes on event

At 19.54 hours on 31 Jan 1940 the unescorted and neutral Vidar was hit aft by a G7e torpedo from U-21 about 100 miles east of the Moray Firth and sank the next day. At 19.48 hours, the U-boat had fired a G7a torpedo that became a surface runner and detonated near the ship, which stopped. A second torpedo had been fired two minutes later, but did not run due to an operating error. The Danish steam merchant Disko, which picked up the survivors from Vidar, was attacked with a G7e torpedo at 20.11 hours, but it also became a surface runner that detonated without damaging the ship.

 
On boardWe have details of 15 people who were on board


If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.

Return to Allied Ships hit by U-boats