MV Herstein (1939)

MV Herstein was a 5100 gross ton freighter launched in 1939 at Copenhagen.[4] She was involved in the unsuccessful search for survivors from HMAS Sydney in November 1941. She was sunk at Rabaul in 1942.

History
Name: Herstein
Operator: Sigurd Herlofsen & Co. A/S, Oslo[1][2]
Port of registry: Oslo, Norway[2]
Builder: Burmeister & Wain, Copenhagen[2]
Yard number: 644[3]
Identification: Call sign: LKGE[2]
Fate: Sunk by air raid, Rabaul 20 January 1942[3]
General characteristics
Tonnage: 5,100 GT[2]
Length: 424.7 ft (129.4 m)[2]
Beam: 56.7 ft (17.3 m)[2]
Draught: 26.3 ft (8.0 m)[2]
Decks: 2[2]
Installed power: 835 hp (623 kW)[2]
Propulsion: 2-stroke diesel 8-cylinder Burmeister & Wain engine[2]
Speed: 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph)[3]

Herstein was utilised during World War II for transporting freight and took part in a number of convoys. After transporting troops and equipment to Port Moresby, she proceeded to Rabaul to load copra, however she was attacked by three dive bombers on 20 January 1942 with three bombs hitting amidships, one exploded in the engine room, resulting in a fire that quickly spread throughout the ship and the second exploded in the bridge area. She was abandoned and she drifted afloat ablaze until becoming beached in Rabaul Harbour. One crew member was killed as a result of the bombing. The rest of the crew were lost on the Montevideo Maru on 1 July 1942.

Citations
  1. "M/S Herstein". Warsailors.com. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  2. Lloyd's Register of Ships (PDF) (1938 ed.). Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  3. "MV Herstein". Wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 29 January 2016.
  4. "Details of the Ship". Plimsoll ShipData. Retrieved 28 November 2010.

References

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