World War IIDS Leikanger
SS Leikanger was on a journey from Cape Town to Trinidad with 1000 tons of ore. On the 27th of July 1942, the vessel was torpedoed by the German uboat U-754 in the position 04N, 18W. The sinking of the ship was violent and immediate with two torpedo hits almost at the same time. Leikanger exploded to smithereens which caused debris and oil to be flung into the skies. About 40 seconds after the explosions survivors noticed that they were just swimming through debris. Two rafts floated up from the depths, and 13 men boarded these. The survivors bound the two rafts together and managed to retrieve a box of signal flags which were used to protect them from the sun at day and to keep them warm at night, as most of the survivors were almost naked. The survivors were spotted and rescued by an American ship on the 31th of July and they were brought to Cape Twon. 13 Norwegians, one Canadian and a Dane perished in the sinking.
About DS Leikanger
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Nationality
Norway
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Built
1923
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Wrecked
27.07.1942
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Carrier
Westfal - Larsen & Co., Bergen
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Tonnage
7336 dvt
