Ranella
Norwegian Steam tanker
Photo courtesy of State Library of New South Wales
| Name | Ranella | ||
| Type: | Steam tanker | ||
| Tonnage | 5,590 tons | ||
| Completed | 1912 - Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend, Sunderland | ||
| Owner | Thomas Andersen, Arendal | ||
| Homeport | Arendal | ||
| Date of attack | 12 Jun 1941 | Nationality:  Norwegian | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-553 (Karl Thurmann) | ||
| Position | 43° 39'N, 28° 00'W - Grid BD 9814 | ||
| Complement | 29 (0 dead and 29 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | OG-64 (dispersed) | ||
| Route | Clyde - New York | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Completed in May 1912 as British Ranella for Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd, London. On 14 Mar 1917, the ship was attacked by an unknown German U-boat south of Ireland but was not hit. 1930 sold to Norway. | ||
| Notes on event | At 15.05 hours on 12 June 1941 the unescorted Ranella (Master Conrad Mørland), dispersed from convoy OG-64, was hit on the port side in the tank #4 by one torpedo from U-553. After the crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats, the tanker was hit by a coup de grâce at 16.35 hours behind the mast and broke in two but remained afloat. The U-boat surfaced and after 17.06 hours fired 100 rounds from her deck gun until she sank. The boats were separated the next day in bad weather, but both sailed about 300 miles in twelve days and reached Figueira da Foz, Azores Islands.
| ||
| More info | |||
| On board | We have details of 29 people who were on board. | ||
If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.