D/S Lindvangen
Updated Dec. 2-2008

To Lindvangen on the "Ships starting with L" page.

Crew List

Uboat.net has a picture of Dalvangen, Lindvangen's sistership (external link).

Her voyages are listed on these original images from the Norwegian National Archives:
Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5

Final Fate -1942:

Lindvangen, on charter to Alcoa Steamship Co., was torpedoed on the starboard side between hatch No. 3 and the engine room by U-515 (Henke) at 00:35 local time on Sept. 23-1942, while on a voyage from Paramaribo to Port of Spain with 2800 tons bauxite, having departed Paramaribo on Sept. 21. Position was 09 20N 60 10W. At the time she was sailing alone at a speed of 9 knots on course 343° true, in good weather with moderate swells and light easterly wind force 3, moon nearly full. Immediately after the explosion, her boilers exploded, and she sank very quickly by the stern (in 30 fathoms), so there was no time to launch the lifeboats or send distress signals. She had a small 6-pounder for armament.

The captain and Able Seaman Brun, who had been pulled under by the suction, managed to get onto a raft which had floated free, and were rescued a few hours later by HMS Helene, which later also found Able Seaman Homersland on a raft, as well as 3 men who were keeping themselves afloat in a crate which had stood on the poop, namely Able Seaman Helminsen, Boatswain Helle and Engine Boy Soucharen. Another 2 men had also managed to keep themselves above water in various ways. Galley Boy Camona was found in the gig, while Stoker Kvamme was found drifting on debris.

The 8 survivors were landed in Georgetown, British Guiana on Sept. 29 where 3 men were admitted to a hospital while the others were accommodated at the Navy & Merchant Seamen's Club. On Oct. 6 they were sent by plane to Port of Spain with arrival that same afternoon.

The inquiry was held in New York on Oct. 28-1942 with only the captain appearing, the other survivors still being in Port of Spain at that time. The U-boat had approached* the captain on the raft to ask the ship's name etc. before taking off again. The 3rd mate, who perished, had been the officer on watch, Able Seaman Nilsen was on lookout, and Able Seaman Brun had been at the helm.

For info, U-515 was also responsible for the attacks on Sørholt and Corneville - follow the links for more details.

Crew List:
* There was a 2nd Mate Eivin Muller who had survived the attack on D/S Leif in Febr.-1942 - same man?

Survivors
Captain John Einar Jensen	Boatswain Knut Helle	Able Seaman Rudolf Brun	Able Seaman Thorvald Homersland	Able Seaman Stein Helminsen	Stoker Ola Kvamme
Engine Boy ? Soucharen (Guinea)	Galley Boy Lennox Camona (Trinidad)
Casualties
† 1st Mate Leif Jacobsen	† 2nd Mate Eivind Muller*	† 3rd Mate Finn Birkeland	† Able Seaman Ragnar Wist	† Able Seaman E. Andersen (Swedish)	† Able Seaman Nils K. Nilsen
† 1st Engineer Oskar Pedersen	2nd Engineer Frode Johansen	† 3rd Engineer Harald Svendsen	† Donkeyman Ingolf Sjursen (Hjelmeland?)	† Stoker Erik Burud	† Stoker Einar Skavøy
† Steward Jown W. Berner	† Cook Einar Messel	† Mess Boy Osman Jekklu (Guinea)

Back to Lindvangen on the "Ships starting with L" page.

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "Sjøforklaringer fra 2. verdenskrig", Norwegian Maritime Museum, Volume I, and misc. (ref. My sources). The memorandum mentioned above was received from Tony Cooper, England.