Ships hit by U-boats


Ranella

Norwegian Steam tanker



Photo courtesy of State Library of New South Wales

NameRanella
Type:Steam tanker
Tonnage5,590 tons
Completed1912 - Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd, Wallsend, Sunderland 
OwnerThomas Andersen, Arendal 
HomeportArendal 
Date of attack12 Jun 1941Nationality:      Norwegian
 
FateSunk by U-553 (Karl Thurmann)
Position43° 39'N, 28° 00'W - Grid BD 9814
Complement29 (0 dead and 29 survivors).
ConvoyOG-64 (dispersed)
RouteClyde - New York 
CargoBallast 
History Completed in May 1912 as British Ranella for Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co Ltd, London. On 14 Mar 1917, the ship was attacked by an unknown German U-boat south of Ireland but was not hit. 1930 sold to Norway. 
Notes on event

At 15.05 hours on 12 June 1941 the unescorted Ranella (Master Conrad Mørland), dispersed from convoy OG-64, was hit on the port side in the tank #4 by one torpedo from U-553. After the crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats, the tanker was hit by a coup de grâce at 16.35 hours behind the mast and broke in two but remained afloat. The U-boat surfaced and after 17.06 hours fired 100 rounds from her deck gun until she sank. The boats were separated the next day in bad weather, but both sailed about 300 miles in twelve days and reached Figueira da Foz, Azores Islands.


Ranella broke in two after being torpedoed twice

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 29 people who were on board


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