Ships hit by U-boats


Balingkar

Dutch Steam merchant



USCG Photo taken on 17 February 1942

NameBalingkar
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage6,318 tons
Completed1921 - AG Weser, Bremen 
OwnerNV Stoomvaart Mij ´Nederland´, Amsterdam 
HomeportBatavia 
Date of attack18 Aug 1942Nationality:      Dutch
 
FateSunk by U-214 (Günther Reeder)
Position41° 34'N, 19° 49'W - Grid CF 2569
Complement93 (2 dead and 91 survivors).
ConvoySL-118
RouteLourenço Marques - Freetown (4 Aug) - Liverpool 
CargoGeneral cargo, including rubber, tea, seed, copper and cotton 
History Completed in December 1921 as Werdenfels for DDG Hansa, Bremen. On 10 May 1940, seized by Netherlands at Sabang and renamed Balingkar
Notes on event

At 18.52 hours on 18 Aug 1942, U-214 fired four aimed single torpedoes at convoy SL-118 from between the columns, heard detonations after 2 minutes 27 seconds, 3 minutes 10 seconds, 4 minutes 31 seconds and 4 minutes 37 seconds and heard three ships breaking up. Reeder claimed the sinking of four ships totalling 20.000 grt.
In fact, one torpedo damaged HMS Cheshire (F 18), another sank the Hatarana and two torpedoes sank the Balingkar.

The Balingkar was struck on the port side under the bridge and sank after 15 minutes. The crew abandoned the ship in three whaleboats and were picked up by two rescue ships. One Lascarian crew member died on the ship, while another Lascarian died of wounds on board the rescue ship.

 
On boardWe have details of 3 people who were on board


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