Ruth I
Norwegian Steam merchant
We don't have a picture of this vessel at this time.
| Name | Ruth I | ||
| Type: | Steam merchant | ||
| Tonnage | 3,531 tons | ||
| Completed | 1900 - C.S. Swan & Hunter Ltd, Wallsend | ||
| Owner | Brummenæs & Torgersen, Haugesund | ||
| Homeport | Haugesund | ||
| Date of attack | 6 Apr 1944 | Nationality:  Norwegian | |
| Fate | Sunk by U-302 (Herbert Sickel) | ||
| Position | 45° 05'N, 35° 11'W - Grid BD 7348 | ||
| Complement | 39 (3 dead and 36 survivors). | ||
| Convoy | SC-156 | ||
| Route | Halifax (29 Mar) - Liverpool | ||
| Cargo | Steel, lumber and pit props | ||
| History | delivered in April 1900 as Ruth to Hagb. Waage, Christiania. 1927 sold to Brummenæs & Torgersen, Haugesund and renamed Ruth I in April 1932. At 08.30 hours on 28 Jan 1941, the Ruth I, a straggler from convoy SC-19, was attacked and slightly damaged by German Condor aircraft about 350 miles west of the Orkneys. On 21 Jul 1941, she left Oban in convoy OG-69 for Gibraltar, but after Inga I had been torpedoed and sunk by U-126 (Bauer) on 27 July, the Ruth I and two British ships were ordered to leave the convoy and reached the destination safely. In October 1941, Ruth I (Master Einar Haugland) returned to the UK in convoy HG-75. | ||
| Notes on event | On 6 April 1944, U-302 fired torpedoes at convoy SC-156 and sank Ruth I and South America, but was herself lost after the attack. The Ruth I (Master Einar Haugland) broke in two and sank after 20 minutes. Three men on watch below were killed. 17 survivors abandoned ship in a damaged lifeboat and 19 others on an improvised raft. All survivors were picked up a few hours later by the HMS Chelmer (K 221). On 12 April, they were transferred to the British rescue vessel Goodwin and landed at Gourock the next day. | ||
| On board | We have details of 39 people who were on board. | ||
If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us.