Amstelland
Dutch Steam merchant
Photo from City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 447-1930
| Name | Amstelland | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 8,156 tons | ||
| Completed | 1920 - Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend, Sunderland | ||
| Owner | NV Tot Voortzetting van den Koninklijke Hollandschen Lloyd, Amsterdam | ||
| Homeport | Amsterdam | ||
| Date of attack | 1 Jul 1940 | Nationality:  Dutch | |
| Fate | Damaged by U-65 (Hans-Gerrit von Stockhausen) | ||
| Position | 47° 53'N, 13° 23'W - Grid BE 6292 | ||
| Complement | 40 (1 dead and 39 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | OA-175 | ||
| Route | London - Southampton (29 Jun) - Dakar - Buenos Aires | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Completed in August 1920 On 26 Feb 1941, the Amstelland (Master C.S.T. van Rietbergen) was bombed by a German aircraft in 54°12N/16°W. This happened on the first voyage after being repaired, in ballast from Falmouth to Buenos Aires. The master was the only casualty of her complement of 45 men, who died of wounds aboard HMS Vanquisher (D 54) (Cdr N.V. Dickinson, DSC, RN). Two days later she was taken in tow by the rescue tug HMS Zwarte Zee (W 163) but had to be abandoned and sank in 54°10N/14°38W. | ||
| Notes on event | At 13.51 hours on 1 July 1940 the unarmed Amstelland (Master Cornelis S.T. van Rietbergen) in station #44 of convoy OA-175 was hit on starboard side aft by the last torpedo from U-65 about 380 miles southwest of Lands End. One crew member was blown overboard by the explosion and drowned. Stockhausen claimed to have sunk his victim, but despite being disabled by the hit the ship remained afloat with a flooded #5 hold for two days, before she was taken in tow by HMS Marauder (W 98) (Lt W.J. Hammond, RNR). HMS Calendula (K 28) (LtCdr A.D. Bruford, RNVR) escorted the damaged vessel to Falmouth, where they arrived on 5 July. The ship was repaired and returned to service on 18 Feb 1941. | ||
| On board | We have details of 26 people who were on board. | ||
If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.