Ships hit by U-boats


Spinanger

Norwegian Motor tanker



Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart

NameSpinanger
Type:Motor tanker
Tonnage7,429 tons
Completed1927 - F. Schichau GmbH, Elbing, Danzig 
OwnerA/S Westfal-Larsen & Co, Bergen 
HomeportBergen 
Date of attack15 Jan 1945Nationality:      Norwegian
 
FateDamaged by U-1172 (Jürgen Kuhlmann)
Position55° 08'N, 5° 25'W - Grid AM 6541
Complement? men (4 dead and ? survivors).
Convoy
RoutePhiladelphia - New York - Londonderry (15 Jan) - Greenock 
CargoFuel oil 
History Completed in December 1927

Post-war:
In November 1954 renamed Mary Stove for Lorentzen Rederi & Co, Oslo. In August 1957 laid up at Tønsberg and in 1960 sold to Belgian breakers and broken up at Bruges in February 1961.

 
Notes on event

At 14.05 hours on 15 Jan 1945 the unescorted Spinanger (Master Jørgen Eikanger) was hit starboard side aft by one torpedo from U-1172 about 1 mile off Clyde Light Vessel. The U-boat did not return from patrol but reported the attack, which was confirmed by the xB-Dienst. The explosion wrecked the engines, killed three men on watch below and badly injured four others. A destroyer on patrol in the area transferred a doctor to the tanker before a RAF rescue launch took the injured to port, where one died as a result of his burns.

After four hours, the damaged tanker was taken in tow by HMS Barfield (Z 42) and arrived the next day in Port Bannatyne, Isle of Bute. She was later towed to Rothesay and returned to service after being repaired.

 
More infoMore on this vessel 
On boardWe have details of 7 people who were on board


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