Ships hit during WWI

Blaamanden

NameBlaamanden
TypeSteamer
GRT954 tons
Country  Norwegian
Built1907
BuilderAkers Mek. Verks., Christiania
OperatorA/S D/S Blaamanden (V. Torkildsen), Bergen
History

U-boat attacks on Steamer Blaamanden


DateU-boatLoss typePositionLocationRouteCargoCasualties
114 Mar 1917UC 21 (Reinhold Saltzwedel)Sunk3 miles E of Ile du Pilier - Loire estuary
47° 01'N, 2° 27'W
Huelva - Nantes
pyrites
0

Blaamanden, Capt. Holterman, had left Huelva on March 3, 1917 for Nantes with a cargo of pyrites. On the 12th he had joined a convoy at St Jean de Luz, made a stop at La Pallice and put back to sea the following night. Weather being rough, the convoy soon dispersed and at dawn Blaamanden was alone on the sea. She then met a patrol boat, asked for instructions to find a pilot to enter at Nantes and was subsequently instructed to head for Le Pilier island. At 09:15, Blaamanden was identified at 4 miles in the SW of the lighthouse by the gun team of Le Pilier, steaming in direction of Loire’s estuary at 8 kts. Almost immediately a submarine surfaced and started firing at the steamer while the guns of the island replied the fire but with small caliber and shells falled short of the submarine by 2000 m. The submarine then started firing at the steamer while the crew was evacuating in two boats. After 14 shots the steamer started to sink and the submarine headed for open sea and soon disappeared. The crew of Blaamanden later landed at Le Pilier from where they were sent to St Nazaire. Capt. Holterman was blamed for having not tried to escape when the submarine started firing.(c/o B.de Maisonneuve) See http://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?132426

Position of attack on Blaamanden


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