Mars
Swedish Steam merchant
Mars under her former name Torbjörn. Photo courtesy of Sjöhistoriska Museet, Stockholm
| Name | Mars | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 1,475 tons | ||
| Completed | 1882 - J. Readhead & Sons Ltd, South Shields | ||
| Owner | Rederi-A/B Wallonia (M. Wedlin), Helsingborg | ||
| Homeport | Helsingborg | ||
| Date of attack | 21 Dec 1939 | Nationality:  Swedish | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-21 (Fritz Frauenheim) | ||
| Position | 57° 00'N, 0° 20'E - Grid AN 4733 | ||
| Complement | 19 (18 dead and 1 survivor). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Leith - Vinga - Malmö - Stockholm | ||
| Cargo | Coal | ||
| History | Completed in August 1882 as British Waterloo for W.D.C. Balls. 1913 sold to Sweden and renamed Torbjörn for J. Persson & Co. 1924 renamed Mars for Rederi-A/B Wallonia (M. Wedlin), Helsingborg. | ||
| Notes on event | At 06.50 hours on 21 Dec 1939, U-21 spotted two steamers with lights set but saw no national markings. At 07.25 hours, the first ship, the Mars (Master Emil G. Gustafsson), was hit by one torpedo and sank within 90 seconds east-northeast of May Island. At 07.42 hours, the second ship, the Carl Henckel, was hit by one torpedo and stopped, but remained afloat and sank immediately following a coup de grâce at 10.16 hours. One survivor from the first and seven survivors from the second ship were picked up the next day by the Hop and taken to Kristiansand. | ||
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