Samnanger
Norwegian Steam merchant
Photo courtesy of Arne Tvedt
| Name | Samnanger | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 4,276 tons | ||
| Completed | 1918 - Canadian Vickers Ltd, Montreal, Quebec | ||
| Owner | A/S Westfal-Larsen & Co, Bergen | ||
| Homeport | Bergen | ||
| Date of attack | 2 Dec 1940 | Nationality:  Norwegian | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-99 (Otto Kretschmer) | ||
| Position | 54° 00'N, 18° 00'W - Grid AL 6885 | ||
| Complement | 30 (30 dead - no survivors) | ||
| Convoy | OB-251 (straggler) | ||
| Route | Hartlepool - Methil Roads (19 Nov) - Oban (29 Nov) - Pepel | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Requisitioned upon completion in August 1918 by the Shipping Controller, managed by Furness Withy & Co. 1920 returned to the Norwegian owner. | ||
| Notes on event | On 29 Nov 1940 the Samnanger (Master Andreas Hansen) was reported missing after straggling from OB-251 and was wrongly reported lost on 21 December in 08°26N/16°50W. In the afternoon on 2 Decemeber, U-99 spotted and identified the Samnanger west of Ireland and followed her for a night attack because the periscope was inoperative. At 20.50 hours, one G7e torpedo was fired that hit amidships and caused a list to starboard. After the crew abandoned ship in the lifeboats, the U-boat began shelling the starboard side of the ship with 27 high explosive and 25 incendiary shells from the deck gun, setting her on fire. The ship capsized and sank after several hours. While the Germans had observed the crew to abandon ship, no survivors were ever found. | ||
| More info | |||
| On board | We have details of 30 people who were on board. | ||
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