World War IIMT Orkanger

The Norwegian MT Orkanger was en route from Abadan to Malta with a full cargo of fuel oil when the vessel was torpedoed in the Mediterranean on 12 June 1940 by the Italian U-boat Naiade in position 31°42’N 28°50’E. The oil cargo was immediately sprayed across the entire ship, and the deck was torn apart. As the next torpedo struck, one of the lifeboats was alongside the vessel; four men in the boat were killed and five were wounded. The survivors were rescued by a Spanish vessel and brought to Alexandria. One of the wounded died in hospital on 17 June. Orkanger was the first Norwegian ship to be sunk by an Italian U-boat.

About MT Orkanger

  • Nationality

    Flag Norway

  • Built

    1928

  • Wrecked

    12.06.1940

  • Carrier

    Westfal-Larsen & Co, Bergen

  • Tonnage

    11610 dvt

Casualties