Shipwreck Research Information
Ships Name : Viking |
Date Lost : 20/03/1940 ( 4.57 am) |
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Ex : Taygeta |
Official number : NJVR/OUNF C/590 |
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Ship Type : Steamship |
Cargo : Ballast |
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Cause: torpedo (U19) Schepke |
Wind :WNW 2 |
Sea State: Slight |
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Crew : 17 |
Crew Lost: 14 |
Pass:00 |
Pass Lost :00 |
T/Lost :14 |
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P of Registry: Aabenraa |
Flag : Denmark |
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Owner: Aabenraa Rederi A/S. |
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Shipbuilder: Flensburger Schiffsbau Gasellschaft. Yd No 138-S |
Construction : steel |
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Where Built: Flensburg |
Year Built: 1893 |
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Propulsion: Screw. 3 Cyl.trip.exp Machinery: Flensburger Schiffsbau Gasellschaft |
Boilers: 1 Hp:600 |
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Gross Tons : 1271 |
Net:776 (tons) |
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Length : 231.4 |
Breadth : 34.2 |
Ships Draft: 14.1 (Ft) |
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Armament : N/A |
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Voyage From : Frederikshavn |
Voyage To : Burntisland |
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Location A : Off Wick |
Location B : |
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Latitude : 58.08 N |
Longitude : 02.03 W |
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Depth : |
Captain: Johannes Neilsen |
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(309) S/S VIKING of Aabenraa, 1153 Reg. Ton Gross, built 1893 of steel. On trip from Frederikshavn to Burntisland, in ballast.
Lost after explosion on 20/3 40 in the North Sea; 14 perished.
Sea inquest at Leith 23/3 40. Sea inquest at Copenhagen 9/4 40. Loss notification dated Aabenraa 29/4 40.
At about 04.10 when VIKING in foggy weather was about 30 nautical miles North East of Wick, a violent explosion happened in the forepart of the vessel. One minute later an other explosion occurred amidships, after which the vessel placed itself perpendicular in the water with the stern upwards. After 1/2 hour had passed VIKING sank. 2 crewmembers succeeded in saving themselves onto a raft. On 21/3 at 1.30 they were taken onboard a lifeboat and put ashore on Wick.
Note 1: The casualties are:
Captain: Johannes Nielsen. Aabenraa,
1st mate Sofus Andersen. Faeroe Islands,
2nd mate Nis Hansen Krap. Løjt Kirkeby,
1st engineer Oscar Heinrich Jørgen Büssen Aabenraa
2nd engineer August Bjerring, Aabenraa,
Cook Arthus Carl Holst. Taastrup,
Messroom boy Rasmus Lindegaard Christensen Jetsmark,
Able seamen. Alfred Emates. Estonia
Able seaman Verner Bach Nielsen. Lime
Able seaman Arthur Olsen Frederikshaven,
Ordinary seaman Vitoft Veinrich Eskildsen Hirtshals,
Stoker Eduars Nielsen Aarhus,
Stoker. Erik Hartvig Christiansen. Copenhagen
Stoker. Villy Ejnar Christoffer Brøchner. Copenhagen.
Note 2. Explosion is believed to be caused by causes of war.
0500/20 Danish SS Viking and Danish SS Bothal sunk in 105° Wick 28 miles.
Wick Lifeboat picked up seven men off two rafts and was searching for a third raft. [ADM 199 362