Ships hit by U-boats


Altair

Norwegian Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of Norsk Maritimt Museum

NameAltair
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage1,522 tons
Completed1923 - Furness Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Haverton Hill, Middlesbrough 
OwnerHenrik Østervold, Bergen 
HomeportBergen 
Date of attack18 Jun 1940Nationality:      Norwegian
 
FateSunk by U-32 (Hans Jenisch)
Position49° 39'N, 11° 15'W - Grid BF 1432
Complement18 (0 dead and 18 survivors).
Convoy
RouteDigby, Nova Scotia - Halifax (5 Jun) - Weymouth - Kings Lynn 
Cargo728 standards of lumber 
History Completed in May 1923 as British Atherton for H. Harrison Shipping Ltd, London. 1935 sold to Norway and renamed Altair for D/S A/S Altair (H. Østervold), Bergen. 
Notes on event

At 17.50 hours on 18 June 1940, U-32 tried to stop the unescorted and unarmed Altair (Master Johannes Pedersen) with a shot across her bow south of Ireland, after one torpedo had missed at 17.22 hours. She did not stop and was then shelled by the U-boat until the crew began to abandon ship in two lifeboats. At 19.02 hours, the ship was hit amidships by a coup de grâce and settled with a heavy list, but remained afloat on her cargo of lumber. The wreck was scuttled by HMS Cape Howe (X 02) (A/Cdr E.L. Woodhall, DSO, MVO, RN) in 49°36N/11°22W on 20 June.

At 19.12 hours, U-32 had sighted the two Spanish trawlers Sálvora and Nuevo Ons and sank them because they were outside of the allowed area of fishing. The survivors were rescued by the lifeboats of the Altair. They were picked up later that same night by the Spanish trawler Iparreko-Izarra, which also located an empty lifeboat of Balmoralwood. The men were later transferred to the Spanish trawler Piedi and landed at Pasajes, Spain on 21 June.

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 18 people who were on board


If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.

Return to Allied Ships hit by U-boats