Ships hit by U-boats


Viking

Danish Steam merchant



Photo courtesy of Danish Maritime Museum, Elsinore

NameViking
Type:Steam merchant
Tonnage1,153 tons
Completed1893 - Flensburger Schiffsbau-Ges., Flensburg 
OwnerAabenraa Rederi A/S (A.F. Cleeman), Aabenraa 
HomeportAabenraa 
Date of attack20 Mar 1940Nationality:      Danish
 
FateSunk by U-19 (Joachim Schepke)
Position58° 21'N, 2° 22'W - Grid AN 1684
Complement17 (15 dead and 2 survivors).
Convoy
RouteFrederikshavn - Blyth 
CargoBallast 
History Completed in June 1893 as German Taygeta for Holm & Molzen, Flensburg. 1931 sold to Denmark and renamed Viking
Notes on event

At 04.15 hours on 20 March 1940, U-19 spotted two steamers northeast of the Moray Firth and 20 minutes later fired a G7a torpedo that missed the first ship. At 04.57 hours, a G7e torpedo was fired that struck Viking in the engine room and caused the ship to sink immediately. The second steamer was Bothal, which was hit amidships by a G7e torpedo at 05.15 hours and sank after breaking in two.

 
On boardWe have details of 14 people who were on board


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