POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Notes

The "Kongsgaard" was built by Kockums Mekaniska Verksteds A/B, Malmo, Sweden, owned by Brodrene Olsen A/ S Stavanger, Norway. The ship was a motor tanker, 9467 tons. During WW11 when sailing in convoy HX133, on 27th June 1941, the ship was torpedoed amidships by U-564 and caught fire. The crew first abandoned ship in the lifeboats, but the master, one mate and nine crew members later reboarded the ship and managed to extinguish the fire with the help of more men. After picking up the remaining crew, the tanker continued and arrived at Belfast on 2 nd July1941. Three days later, a telegram arrived from the First Lord of the Admiralty arrived, congratulating them on bringing their ship safely to port after being torpedoed. However, on 21st February, 1942, the unescorted '"Kongsgaard" en route Puerto de la Cruz-Curacao- Aruba was attacked by U-67 . The ship was struck by one torpedo on the port side between the bridge and the poop deck. The ship caught fire sending flames above the entire afterpart. A dinghy was thrown overboard, whereupon 2 men tried to save themselves in it, but the flames caught up with them. Some men amidships lowered the starboard boat and, after fishing some crew out of the sea, rowed away as fast as they could . The U-boat fired subsequent topedoes to admit a coup-de -grace. One missed, but the second struck the afterpart, and sank the ship. The master and six survivors in the lifeboat were rescued by a fishing vessel three hours later and taken to Curacao. An eighth survivor, who had jumped off the afterpart and swum through the flames which had quickly spread on the water after the explosion, was also picked up. Thirty - eight of the crew perished in the attack. References http://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ships/1015.html