Ships hit by U-boats


Caledonia

Norwegian Motor tanker



Photo courtesy of Roger W. Jordan

NameCaledonia
Type:Motor tanker
Tonnage9,892 tons
Completed1936 - Deutsche Werft AG, Betrieb Finkenwärder, Hamburg 
OwnerLorentzen Rederi & Co, Oslo 
HomeportOslo 
Date of attack28 Apr 1941Nationality:      Norwegian
 
FateSunk by U-96 (Heinrich Lehmann-Willenbrock)
Position60° 03'N, 16° 10'W - Grid AL 3437
Complement37 (12 dead and 25 survivors).
ConvoyHX-121
RouteAruba (31 Mar) - Halifax - Glasgow 
Cargo13.745 tons of diesel and fuel oil 
History Completed in January 1936 
Notes on event

At 19.25 hours on 28 April 1941, U-96 fired three single torpedoes at three tankers in convoy HX-121 south of Iceland and reported the sinking of two tankers with 18.000 grt and damaging another with 6000 grt after observing three hits. The tankers Oilfield and the Caledonia were sunk and the freighter Port Hardy was hit and sunk after the torpedo had missed the intended target.

Seven crew members of the 35 men and two gunners aboard the Caledonia (Master Ragnvald Andresen) died in the engine room. Five others jumped overboard and tried to get to the only launched lifeboat, but they drifted into the burning inferno around the nearby torpedoed Oilfield and died. The 25 men in the lifeboat desperately tried to rescue them, but this had to be given up because of the intense heat. The survivors were picked up by the British rescue ship Zaafaran and landed in Gourock on 1 May.

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 34 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