Ships hit by U-boats


Ringstad

Norwegian Motor merchant



Ringstad under her former name Talisman. Photo courtesy of State Library of New South Wales

NameRingstad
Type:Motor merchant
Tonnage4,765 tons
Completed1923 - Deutsche Werft AG, Betrieb Finkenwärder, Hamburg 
OwnerOlav Ringdal, Oslo 
HomeportOslo 
Date of attack24 Jan 1942Nationality:      Norwegian
 
FateSunk by U-333 (Peter-Erich Cremer)
Position45° 50'N, 51° 04'W - Grid BC 4700
Complement43 (30 dead and 13 survivors).
ConvoyON-55 (straggler)
RouteCardiff - Belfast - St. John, New Brunswick 
Cargo2598 tons of china clay 
History Completed in April 1923 as Talisman for Wilh. Whilhelmsen, Tønsberg. 1936 sold to Bruun & von der Lippe´s Rederi A/S, Tønsberg and renamed Vigilant. 1937 sold to Skibs A/S Gdynia (Olav Ringdal), Oslo. 1940 renamed Ringstad
Notes on event

At 15.25 hours on 24 Jan 1942 the Ringstad (Master Jacob K. Knudstad), straggling from convoy ON-55 due to several days of stormy weather, was hit on the starboard side in the foreship by one torpedo from U-333 about 85 miles southeast of Cape Race. All on board abandoned ship in three lifeboats and were questioned by the U-boat that surfaced after the ship sank after 20 minutes by the bow. The Germans offered water and food to the survivors and told them the direction of the nearest land before leaving the area after wishing them good luck.

The lifeboats were separated in the stormy and cold weather. Two lifeboats containing 27 crew members and three passengers were never seen again. Only the motor boat of the master that was completely covered in ice was spotted after five days by an aircraft that escorted a convoy and sent USS Swanson (DD 443) to rescue the master and eleven other survivors in it. The exhausted men were landed at Reykjavik on 5 February.

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 43 people who were on board


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