Ships hit by U-boats


Berganger

Norwegian Motor merchant



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameBerganger
Type:Motor merchant
Tonnage6,826 tons
Completed1932 - Nederlandsche Scheepsbouw Mij NV, Amsterdam 
OwnerA/S Westfal-Larsen & Co, Bergen 
HomeportBergen 
Date of attack2 Jun 1942Nationality:      Norwegian
 
FateSunk by U-578 (Ernst-August Rehwinkel)
Position39° 25'N, 69° 50'W - Grid CA 6287
Complement47 (4 dead and 43 survivors).
Convoy
RouteBuenos Aires - Santos (16 May) - Boston - New York 
CargoGeneral cargo, including 48.000 bags of coffee, 1000 bales of linters, 1138 liters sunflower seed oil and hides 
History Completed in August 1932 
Notes on event

Between 03.32 and 07.05 hours on 2 June 1942 the unescorted Berganger (Master Alm Normann Nymann) was missed by five single torpedoes from U-213 (Varendorff), but the U-boat then gave up further attacks due to the high speed of the vessel.

At 20.27 hours on the same day, she was hit on the port side amidships by one torpedo from U-578 southeast of Cape Cod. The U-boat was then forced to dive by the gunners and fired a coup de grâce, which hit on the port side in #2 hold, causing her to capsize and sink. The Germans surfaced, questioned the survivors and took pictures of them. The survivors abandoned ship in three lifeboats and were all rescued on 4 June: 17 were picked up by the Norwegian motor merchant Bañaderos and landed in New York the next day, 13 were picked up by USS Madison (DD 425) and landed in Norfolk on 6 June and the master and 12 survivors were picked by the American fishing vessel Mary J. Landry 14 miles off Block Island and landed at New Bedford on 5 June.

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 47 people who were on board


If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.

Return to Allied Ships hit by U-boats