Polyana
Norwegian Steam merchant
Polyana under her former name Skjoldheim. Photo courtesy of Fra Rassmussen Collection
| Name | Polyana | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 2,267 tons | ||
| Completed | 1919 - Collingwood Shipbuilding Co Ltd, Collingwood, Ontario | ||
| Owner | Rederi A/S Hauk (Bucha Godager & Co), Oslo | ||
| Homeport | Oslo | ||
| Date of attack | 25 Apr 1941 | Nationality:  Norwegian | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-103 (Viktor Schütze) | ||
| Position | 12° 45'N, 28° 21'W - Grid EH 9356 | ||
| Complement | 25 (25 dead - no survivors) | ||
| Convoy | OG-58 (dispersed) | ||
| Route | Sunderland (22 Mar) - Oban (7 Apr) - Freetown | ||
| Cargo | Coal | ||
| History | Completed in August 1919 as Canadian Signaller for Canadian Government (Merchant Marine Ltd), Montreal. 1925 renamed Emperor of Halifax for Richards Marine & Transport Co Ltd, Montreal. In August 1929 sold to Norway and renamed Skjoldheim for Nils Røgenæs, Haugesund. In November 1929 sold to A/S Skjoldheim (E. Gerrard & H.I. Ramsland), Kristiansand. On 15 December 1939 sold to Einar Rasmussen, Kristiansand and renamed Polyana. On 1 March 1940 sold to Rederi A/S Hauk (Bucha Godager & Co), Oslo. On 25 January 1941 the Polyana was damaged during an air attack in Great Yarmouth. | ||
| Notes on event | At 00.38 hours on 25 April 1941 the unescorted Polyana (Master Karl Jacobsen) was hit near the bridge by one torpedo from U-103, capsized fast and sank within one minute about 250 miles west-southwest of Cape Verde Islands. The ship was last seen when detached from convoy OG-58 in 44°41N/22°43W on 14 April and was reported missing when she did not arrive in Freetown on 30 April. The U-boat had missed the freighter with a first torpedo at 23.57 hours on 24 April. All crew members: 19 Norwegians, two British, one Danish, one Tunisian, one Spanish and one Maltese were lost. | ||
| More info | |||
| On board | We have details of 25 people who were on board. | ||
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