World War IIMS Austvard
The Norwegian MS Austvard was en route from Lourenço Marques to Immingham with a cargo of iron ore. On 30 January 1941, in position 54°15’N 14°00’W, approximately 130 nautical miles west of Ireland, the vessel was attacked by a German aircraft. Two bombs struck at the port waterline and three hit the boat deck. Austvard sank within seven minutes. A damaged lifeboat with 16 men managed to get clear of the vessel before it went down, while 12 men were pulled under. Only six of them resurfaced and managed to climb onto a raft. The crew succeeded in repairing the lifeboat enough for it to carry eight men. The boat took two rafts with survivors in tow, but due to poor weather conditions, they were forced to let them go. Several of the men in the lifeboat were in critical condition. On 4 February, the lifeboat reached Dingle, Ireland, with two dead on board. The six survivors were taken to hospital, where one later died. The two rafts were never found. Seventeen Norwegians, three Britons, one Finn, and one Estonian perished in the sinking.
About MS Austvard
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Nationality
Norway
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Built
1925
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Wrecked
30.01.1941
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Carrier
Laurits Kloster, Kristiania, Oslo
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Tonnage
7140 dvt
