Orania
Photo courtesy of Lennart Falleth collection
| Name | Orania | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 1,854 tons | ||
| Completed | 1919 - A/B Lindholmens Varv, Gothenburg | ||
| Owner | Rederi-A/B Fredrika (Erik Höberg), Stockholm | ||
| Homeport | Stockholm | ||
| Date of attack | 11 Feb 1940 | Nationality:  Swedish | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-50 (Max-Hermann Bauer) | ||
| Position | Grid AF 7837 - See estimated map location (60.58N00.53W) * | ||
| Complement | 24 (14 dead and 10 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | |||
| Route | Buenos Aires (6 Jan) - Malmö and Åhus, Sweden | ||
| Cargo | Maize, bran and oil cake | ||
| History | Completed in August 1919 | ||
| Notes on loss | At 23.54 hours on 11 Feb, 1940, the Orania was hit by one torpedo from U-50 and sank within three minutes 65 miles north-northeast of Flugga Lightvessel, Shetland Islands. The U-boat had spotted the illuminated vessel at 22.40 hours, but was not able to identify her as neutral. The wife of the master was also aboard. All hands on board abandoned ship in two lifeboats, but one of them with 14 occupants was never seen again. The survivors in the other boat were picked up the next day by HMS Faulknor (H 62) (Capt C.S. Daniel, DSO, RN), transferred to HMS Foxhound (H 69) (LtCdr P.H. Hadow, RN) and landed at Lerwick. | ||
* Estimated position shown here is based on positions of losses in a roughly the same German grid code. It may be a bit off but should give a good idea as to where the attack took place.
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