Posted by Axel van Eesbeeck gemyala@netcologne.de on June 28, 2001.

Hallo

On 04.01.1940 the special ship 20 / Nerissa sunk an estonian freighter. I want to have more information on this estonian freighter.

Best regards
Axel

RESPONSE:

Posted by Roger W Jordan rogwj@aol.com on June 28.
Axel

I investigated this one when I was compiling the text for "The World's Merchant Fleets 1939". The report of the loss apparently only shows up in one published work, namely "Chronology of the War at Sea", and I have since established that Professor Rohwer has no more information on the identity of the Estonian freighter.
As far as Estonian war losses of 1940 are concerned, they all seem to be accounted for, even the small vessels. The are REET, BEGONIA, MERKUR, VIIU, KOLGA, LEOLA, MERISAAR, TIIU, VAPPER and NORA, and there was also the marine hazard total loss ELSI. In Janaury 1940 one Estonian vessel, KESSU (295 grt), was captured and taken to Memel. Later captures were MARE, AKSI, KADLI, ARCTURUS, TAAT and URANUS. In none of these cases is Schiff 20, NERISSA, mentioned.
Regards
Roger W Jordan