1942 – Jan 19, US freighter Norvana sunk by U-boat, ~50m north of Cape Hatteras, NC–29

–29 AAMW. US Ships Sunk or Damaged on Eastcoast of U.S….World War II…. 2010.
–29 Helgason. “Ships hit by U-boats. Norvana. American Steam merchant.”

Narrative Information

American Merchant Marine at War:
Date Ship Type Cause Result Location Deaths
“01/22/42… Norvana Freighter Torpedo Sunk Eastcoast Crew 29”

Helgason:
“Type: Steam merchant
“Tonnage 3,677 tons
“Completed 1920 – Saginaw Shipbuilding Co., Saginaw MI
“Owner North Atlantic & Gulf SS Co., New York
“Homeport New York
“Date of attack 19 Jan 1942
“Nationality American
“Fate Sunk by U-123 (Reinhard Hardegen)
“Position 36° 07’N, 75° 23’W – Grid CA 7668
“Complement 29 (29 dead – no survivors)
“Route Nuevitas, Cuba (14 Jan) – Philadelphia
“Cargo 3980 tons of ore
….
“Notes on event: At 05.16 hours on 19 January 1942 the unescorted and unarmed Norvana (Master Ernest Jefferson Thompson) was hit just aft of the stack by one torpedo from U-123 about 50 miles north of Cape Hatteras after a first torpedo fired at 04.41 hours had missed. The explosion caused the ship to sink by the stern within one minute, leaving no survivors among the eight officers and 21 crewmen on board. The US Navy later found an empty lifeboat from the Norvana off Wimble Shoals.” [U-boat.net has details on the 29 crewmembers at:
https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship1266.html ]

Sources

American Merchant Marine at War. U.S. Ships Sunk or Damaged on Eastcoast of U.S. and Gulf of Mexico During World War II. Eastcoast of U.S. (175 ships). 12-22-2010. Webpage accessed 4-11-2021 at: http://www.usmm.org/eastgulf.html

Helgason, Gudmundur. “Ships hit by U-boats. City of Atlanta, American Steam merchant.” Uboat.net. Webpage accessed 4-12-2021 at: https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/1268.html