SS Kaunas

SS Kaunas was a Lithuanian Cargo ship that was torpedoed by the German submarine U-57 in the North Sea 6.5 nautical miles (12.0 km) west north west of the Noord Hinder Lightship on 17 November 1939 while she was travelling from Ghent, Belgium to Hartlepool, United Kingdom in ballast.[1]

History
Name:
  • Dixie (1931)
  • Vardefjell (1931-1938)
  • Kaunas (1938-1939)
Owner: Akc-Vé Lietuvos Baltijos Lloydas
Builder: Porsgrund Mekaniske Vaerksted
Yard number: 93
Launched: 29 January 1931
Completed: July 1931
Identification: LYKC
Fate: Torpedoed and sunk 17 November 1939
General characteristics
Type: Cargo ship
Tonnage: 1,566 GRT
Length: 77.7 metres (254 ft 11 in)
Beam: 11.6 metres (38 ft 1 in)
Depth: 6.2 metres (20 ft 4 in)
Installed power: 1 x 4-cyl. compound engine
Propulsion: Screw propeller
Speed: 10 knots
Crew: 16

Construction

Kaunas was launched on 29 January 1931 and completed in July of the same year at the Porsgrund Mekaniske Vaerksted shipyard in Porsgrunn, Norway. The ship was 77.7 metres (254 ft 11 in) long, had a beam of 11.6 metres (38 ft 1 in) and had a depth of 6.2 metres (20 ft 4 in). She was assessed at 1,566 GRT and had 1 x 4-cyl. compound engine driving a single screw propellor. The ship could generate 66 n.h.p. with a speed of 10 knots.[1]

Sinking

The neutral Kaunas was travelling unescorted from Ghent, Belgium to Hartlepool, United Kingdom in ballast when on 17 November 1939 at 20.15 pm, she was hit amidships by a G7e torpedo from the German submarine German submarine U-57 in the North Sea 6.5 nautical miles (12.0 km) west north west of the Noord Hinder Lightship without warning as the U-boat crew couldn't find any visible nationality markings. She sank stern first in seven minutes with the loss of one crew member. The 15 survivors escaped the ship in two lifeboats and were rescued later that day.[2]

Wreck

The wreck of Kaunas lies at (52°05′N 02°30′E).[2]

References
  1. "SS Kaunas [+1939]". wrecksite.eu. 23 November 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  2. "Kaunas". uboat.net. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
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