Norlandia
Norlandia under her former name Lake Galata
| Name | Norlandia | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 2.689 tons | ||
| Completed | 1919 - Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, Manitowoc WI | ||
| Owner | Merchants & Miners Transportation Co, Baltimore MD | ||
| Homeport | Baltimore | ||
| Date of attack | 4 Jul, 1942 | Nationality:  American | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-575 (Günther Heydemann) | ||
| Position | 19.33N, 68.39W - Grid DN 9697 - See location on a map - | ||
| Complement | 30 (9 dead and 21 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Antigua - San Juan, Puero Rico - Nuevitas, Cuba | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Built as Lake Galata for US Shipping Board, Washington DC and given to Merchants & Miners Transportation Co, Baltimore MD. 1925 transferred to Norlasco, Baltimore MD and renamed Wyoming. 1941 given back to Merchants & Miners Transportation Co, Baltimore MD and renamed Norlandia. | ||
| Notes on loss | At 03.38 hours on 4 Jul, 1942, the unescorted and unarmed Norlandia (Master Herbert Elvin Callis) was torpedoed by U-575 about 25 miles northeast of Cape Samana, San Domingo. The torpedo struck on the starboard side between the engine room and the #3 hatch. The explosion tore up the deck, destroyed the radio room, jammed the machinery and caused the ship to flood rapidly, sinking by the stern after 15 minutes. The 21 survivors among the crew of eight officers and 22 crewmen abandoned ship in two lifeboats and were later questioned by Heydemann, who expressed regret at having to sink an American ship and gave them a bottle of German brandy before leaving. He reported the ship erroneously as the Panamanian merchant Portland. One boat with 14 survivors landed after 18 hours at Samaná, Dominican Republic, while the other boat arrived 12 hours later. | ||
If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.