Ships hit by U-boats


Solør

Norwegian Motor tanker



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameSolør
Type:Motor tanker
Tonnage8,262 tons
Completed1938 - Eriksbergs Mekaniske Verkstads A/B, Gothenburg 
OwnerS. Ugelstad, Oslo 
HomeportOslo 
Date of attack27 Jan 1945Nationality:      Norwegian
 
FateA total loss by U-825 (Gerhard Stoelker)
Position52° 35'N, 5° 18'W - Grid AM 9496
Complement44 (4 dead and 40 survivors).
ConvoyHX-332
RouteNew York - Clyde 
Cargo11.000 tons of fuel oil and a deck cargo of gliders 
History Completed in July 1938 
Notes on event

On 27 Jan 1945, U-825 fired torpedoes at convoy HX-332 off Cardigan Bay after it formed two columns to enter the St. George´s Channel and reported three detonations and one ship probably sunk. In fact, Solør and Ruben Dario were hit by one torpedo each.

The Solør (Master Fridtjof Olsen) was hit on the port side in the engine room. The explosion badly damaged the stern and the poop dropped by four to five foot. At 13.25 hours (local time), the tanker was abandoned about one hour after being torpedoed. Four crew members were lost. The survivors, seven of them wounded, were picked up by the British rescue ship Zamalek. The next day, the rescue ship brought the crew back to their ship and took the injured men to Swansea.
The Solør was taken in tow and beached at Oxwich Bay late at night on the 29 January. She broke in two after the half of the cargo and 17 gliders had been unloaded and was declared a total loss. The forepart was later refloated and broken up at Briton Ferry, while the stern was left behind, but salved for scrap in July 1952.

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 44 people who were on board


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