Ships hit by U-boats


Nina Borthen

Norwegian Motor tanker



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameNina Borthen
Type:Motor tanker
Tonnage6,123 tons
Completed1930 - Sir W.G. Armstrong, Whitworth & Co Ltd, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 
OwnerHarry Borthen & Co A/S, Oslo 
HomeportOslo 
Date of attack6 Oct 1940Nationality:      Norwegian
 
FateSunk by U-103 (Viktor Schütze)
Position53° 00'N, 26° 00'W - Grid AL 7172
Complement35 (35 dead - no survivors)
ConvoyOB-222 (dispersed)
RouteSouthampton (27 Sep) - Milford Haven (30 Sep) - Table Bay - Abadan 
CargoBallast 
History Completed in August 1930

On 21 Jul 1940, the Nina Borthen in convoy CW-7 was bombed and damaged by German aircraft. The ship made it to Spithead and no casualties among the crew occured. 
Notes on event

At 22.04 hours on 6 Oct 1940 the Nina Borthen (Master Bjarne Nielsen), dispersed from convoy OB-222 the day before, was hit by one torpedo from U-103 and developed a list, but this was corrected by the crew. The ship was then hit by two coups de grâce at 22.14 and 22.38 hours and began to list to port, when she was hit by a fourth torpedo at 23.30 hours, broke in two and sank. 28 Norwegians and seven British crew members were lost.
The tanker was reported missing after convoy in which she left Britain was dispersed during a gale in 54°N/26°W on 5 October. Only an empty lifeboat drifted ashore near Dunmore, Ireland on 19 December.

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 32 people who were on board


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