World War IIDS Torvanger
SS Torvanger was on a journey from Halifax, carrying munitions to Alexandria via Cape Town. On the 23rd of June 1942, the vessel was torpedoed by the German uboat U-84 in position 3390N, 4130W. The vessel broke in two and sunk within a few minutes. Three men in the machine room and a man in the aft were killed. Despite a strong heel the crew managed to ready two lifeboats on the midships, but due to loose cargo on the deck it prevented the crew on the aft to reach the midship. Some of them jumped overboard, while others boarded rafts on the roof and calmly waited for the ship to sink so the rafts would float. The uboat emerged and offered to take in any wounded, but the offer was declined. The damaged lifeboats were repaired. A third lifeboat was found and set sail for the Azores. On the 30th of June one of the lifeboats were taken in by a Dutch ship. On the 5th of July, the two other lifeboats safely arrived to Fayal at Horta. Two Norwegians, a Canadian and a Briton perished in the sinking.
About DS Torvanger
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Nationality
Norway
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Built
1920
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Wrecked
23.06.1943
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Carrier
Westfal - Larsen & Co., Bergen
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Tonnage
10750 dvt
