Ships hit by U-boats


Olaf Fostenes

Norwegian Motor merchant



Photo courtesy of Danish Maritime Museum, Elsinore

NameOlaf Fostenes
Type:Motor merchant
Tonnage2,994 tons
Completed1936 - Helsingørs Jernskibs-og Maskinbyggeri A/S, Elsinore 
OwnerLars Fostenes Rederi A/S, Haugesund 
HomeportHaugesund 
Date of attack18 Sep 1942Nationality:      Norwegian
 
FateSunk by U-380 (Josef Röther)
Position44° 56'N, 41° 05'W - Grid BC 9277
Complement36 (0 dead and 36 survivors).
Convoy
RouteLiverpool (12 Sep) - Halifax 
CargoBallast 
History Completed in November 1936

On 31 August 1940 the Olaf Fostenes (Master Valvatne) rescued 251 survivors from the Volendam, which had been torpedoed by U-60 (Schnee). Many of the survivors were women and children being evacuated to Canada, they were landed at Greenock on 1 September. 
Notes on event

At 09.21 hours on 18 September 1942 the unescorted Olaf Fostenes (Master Aksel Meier Lidahl) was hit on starboard side between hold #1 and #2 by one of two torpedoes from U-380 and sank by the bow after being hit on port side in the engine room by a coup de grâce at 11.20 hours. The master, 32 crew members and three gunners abandoned ship in two lifeboats and were questioned by the Germans who asked for the master but they were told that he had been lost. The survivors set sail for Newfoundland and were located by an aircraft on 26 September. Shortly thereafter picked up by HMS Firedrake (H 79) (Cdr E.H. Tilden, DSC, RN) they were taken to St. John’s.

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 36 people who were on board


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