Ships hit by U-boats


Trafalgar

Norwegian Motor merchant



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameTrafalgar
Type:Motor merchant
Tonnage5,542 tons
Completed1938 - Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Mij NV, Amsterdam 
OwnerWilh. Wilhelmsen, Oslo 
HomeportTønsberg 
Date of attack16 Oct 1942Nationality:      Norwegian
 
FateSunk by U-129 (Hans-Ludwig Witt)
Position25° 30'N, 52° 00'W - Grid DQ 1153
Complement43 (0 dead and 43 survivors).
Convoy
RouteBuenos Aires (1 Oct) - New York 
Cargo7900 tons of general cargo, including 1100 tons of sunflower seed oil, 2400 tons of wet salted hides, 2000 tons of corned beef and 200 tons of quebracho 
History Completed in February 1938 
Notes on event

At 00.23 hours on 16 Oct 1942 the unescorted Trafalgar (Master Nils Løken) was hit on the starboard side by one torpedo from U-129 about 1100 miles northeast of Guadeloupe. The torpedo struck below the bridge at #3 hold and probably caused a boiler explosion that destroyed both starboard lifeboats, laid down the derricks on the after deck and blew water all over the ship. The crew first remained on board and manned the guns, but all hands abandoned ship in the two port boats and the dinghy from the poop when the deck was awash as the ship sank slowly. The U-boat surfaced shortly afterwards and questioned the survivors who told them that the master had gone down with the ship. On 25 October, the lifeboats made landfall at La Désirade Island, Guadeloupe, but risking internment by the Vichy French authorities they had to continue, and landed the next day on Dominica, West Indies.

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 43 people who were on board


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