Pluto
Norwegian Steam merchant
Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart
| Name | Pluto | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 1,598 tons | ||
| Completed | 1918 - Laxevaags Maskin & Jernskibsbyggeri, Bergen | ||
| Owner | B. Stolt-Nilsen & Sønner A/S, Haugesund | ||
| Homeport | Haugesund | ||
| Date of attack | 23 Jan 1940 | Nationality:  Norwegian | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-19 (Joachim Schepke) | ||
| Position | 55° 35'N, 1° 27'W - Grid AN 5186 | ||
| Complement | 22 (0 dead and 22 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Bergen - Methil (23 Jan) - Middlesbrough | ||
| Cargo | Ballast | ||
| History | Completed in August 1918 as Røvær for D/S A/S John K. Haalands Rederi, Haugesund. 1922 renamed Pluto for D/S A/S Pluto (B. Stolt-Nielsen & Co), Haugesund. In November 1926 transferred to A/S D/S Facto (B. Stolt-Nilsen & Sønner A/S), Haugesund. | ||
| Notes on event | In the morning of 23 Jan 1940, U-19 spotted about 20 single and unescorted steamers east of Longstone Island, apparently ships that had arrived at Methil the day before in convoy HN-8 and were now heading south along the coast. At 08.43 hours, Pluto was hit just aft of amidships by one G7e torpedo and sank by the stern within 6 minutes. Baltanglia (Master George Edward Thomas) steamed behind her and manoeuvered to rescue the crew, thinking the other ship had been mined. But a Finnish steamer already picked up the survivors and later landed them at Seahouses, Northumberland. At 08.55 hours, Baltanglia was hit amidships by one G7e torpedo and sank by the bow after 14 minutes southeast of the Farne Islands. The crew abandoned ship in two lifeboats, which were towed in by local fishing vessels from Seahouses. | ||
| More info | |||
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