Kaunas
Lithuanian Steam merchant
| Name | Kaunas | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 1,566 tons | ||
| Completed | 1931 - Porsgrund Mek Verksted, Porsgrunn | ||
| Owner | Akc-Vé Lietuvos Baltijos Lloydas, Kaunas | ||
| Homeport | Kaunas | ||
| Date of attack | 17 Nov 1939 | Nationality:  Lithuanian | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-57 (Claus Korth) | ||
| Position | 52° 05'N, 2° 30'E - Grid AN 8723 | ||
| Complement | 16 (1 dead and 15 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Ghent - Hartlepool | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Launched in January 1931 as Norwegian Dixie for A/S Frank (Chr. J. Reim), Porsgrunn. Completed in July 1931 as Vardefjell for A/S Valberg (Olsen & Ugelstad), Oslo. In January 1938 sold to Lithuania and renamed Kaunas. | ||
| Notes on event | At 20.15 hours on 17 Nov 1939 the unescorted and neutral Kaunas was hit amidships by one G7e torpedo from U-57 and sank by the stern after seven minutes 6.5 miles west-northwest of the Noord Hinder light vessel. The ship was attacked without warning because no nationality markings were visible. The survivors, one of them injured, abandoned ship in two lifeboats and were saved. | ||
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