SS Soesterberg
Encyclopedia
The SS Soesterberg was a Dutch
steam merchant ship that saw service during the Second World War. She sailed with several convoys, before joining the ill-fated convoy SC-7
. Whilst sailing as part of this convoy she was torpedo
ed and sunk by a German U-boat
.
, who homeported her in Amsterdam
. She survived in allied hands after the German invasion of the Netherlands
in May 1940. She went on to make a number of transatlantic crossings to bring supplies to Britain. Her first convoy was as part of OB-174 in June 1940, when she sailed to America from Liverpool
, returning with convoy HX-59 in July, having sailed from Halifax
Nova Scotia
. She then sailed from Methil
back to America as part of convoy OA-28 in September.
, joining the convoy assembling at Sydney, Nova Scotia
, and departing with the convoy on 5 October. Soesterberg was bound for Hull
carrying 790 fathoms of pit prop
s. During the crossing the convoy was overwhelmed by a number of German U-boats, who executed a successful "wolfpack" attack. , under the command of Fritz Frauenheim
was one of those attacking the convoy. At 01.22 hours on 19 October U-101 fired three bow torpedoes at the ships of the convoy as they sailed some 102 miles west by north of Barra Head
, Outer Hebrides
. He followed this up two minutes later by firing a stern torpedo. After observing the results he claimed to have made four hits on four ships, sinking them for a total of 21,000 grt. He had however only hit two ships, the Assyrian
with a bow torpedo, and the Soesterberg with the stern torpedo.
The explosion of the torpedo blew four men overboard and wrecked the starboard lifeboat. Three gunners then abandoned ship on a raft, whilst the rest of the crew left in the port lifeboat. When a headcount was carried out, the men from the engine room were found to be missing. The master and the first mate re-boarded the ship to search for them, but they apparently had been killed on watch below. The master and the first mate then left. The now abandoned Soesterberg remained afloat and drifting, subsequently colliding with the stern of the stricken wreck of the Assyrian. She suddenly turned upright and sank shortly thereafter. Her cargo of pit props came loose as she did so, several falling onto the survivors of the Assyrian, wrecking many of their life rafts. The survivors were able to use the pit props as lifesavers as they awaited rescue. The survivors were picked up by and were landed at Greenock
. In the meantime one of Soesterberg’s stokers had also survived the sinking and was picked up by a life boat from the , that had previously been sunk by Otto Kretschmer
's . There were six dead and nineteen survivors from Soesterberg.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
steam merchant ship that saw service during the Second World War. She sailed with several convoys, before joining the ill-fated convoy SC-7
Convoy SC-7
SC-7 was the code name for a large Allied World War II convoy of 35 merchant ships and six escorts which sailed eastbound from Sydney, Nova Scotia for Liverpool and other United Kingdom ports on 5 October 1940. While crossing the Atlantic, the convoy was intercepted by one of the German Navy's...
. Whilst sailing as part of this convoy she was torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
ed and sunk by a German U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
.
Early career
Soesterberg was built in 1927 by Antwerp Engineering Co Ltd, of Hoboken and entered service with Stoomboot Mij Hillegersberg NV (Vinke & Co), RotterdamRotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, who homeported her in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. She survived in allied hands after the German invasion of the Netherlands
Battle of the Netherlands
The Battle of the Netherlands was part of Case Yellow , the German invasion of the Low Countries and France during World War II. The battle lasted from 10 May 1940 until 14 May 1940 when the main Dutch forces surrendered...
in May 1940. She went on to make a number of transatlantic crossings to bring supplies to Britain. Her first convoy was as part of OB-174 in June 1940, when she sailed to America from Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, returning with convoy HX-59 in July, having sailed from Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. She then sailed from Methil
Methil
Methil is an eastern coastal town in Scotland. It was part of the former Burgh of Buckhaven and Methil. It lies within a continuous urban area described as Levenmouth.Methil lies geographically between Largo bay to the east and Wemyss Bay to the west....
back to America as part of convoy OA-28 in September.
Sinking
Her return journey was as part of convoy SC-7 in October. She sailed from Chatham, New BrunswickChatham, New Brunswick
Chatham is a Canadian urban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation in 1995, Chatham was an incorporated town in Northumberland County along the south bank of the Miramichi River opposite Douglastown...
, joining the convoy assembling at Sydney, Nova Scotia
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Sydney is a Canadian urban community in the province of Nova Scotia. It is situated on the east coast of Cape Breton Island and is administratively part of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality....
, and departing with the convoy on 5 October. Soesterberg was bound for Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
carrying 790 fathoms of pit prop
Pit prop
A pit prop or mine prop is a length of lumber used to prop up the roofs of tunnels in coal mines.Canada traditionally supplied pit props to the British market...
s. During the crossing the convoy was overwhelmed by a number of German U-boats, who executed a successful "wolfpack" attack. , under the command of Fritz Frauenheim
Fritz Frauenheim
Fritz Frauenheim was a German U-boat commander of the Second World War. From September 1939 until retiring from front line service in December 1940, he sank 19 ships for a total of , and damaged two others. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross , among other commendations...
was one of those attacking the convoy. At 01.22 hours on 19 October U-101 fired three bow torpedoes at the ships of the convoy as they sailed some 102 miles west by north of Barra Head
Barra Head
Barra Head, also known as Berneray , is the southernmost of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. Within the Outer Hebrides, it forms part of the Barra Isles archipelago. Originally, Barra Head only referred to the southernmost headland of Berneray but is now a common name for the entire island...
, Outer Hebrides
Outer Hebrides
The Outer Hebrides also known as the Western Isles and the Long Island, is an island chain off the west coast of Scotland. The islands are geographically contiguous with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland...
. He followed this up two minutes later by firing a stern torpedo. After observing the results he claimed to have made four hits on four ships, sinking them for a total of 21,000 grt. He had however only hit two ships, the Assyrian
SS Assyrian
The SS Assyrian was a steam merchant ship, originally German-built, which sailed under the British flag during the Second World War.-Early years:She was originally built by Blohm + Voss, Hamburg as the German motor merchant Fritz, in 1914...
with a bow torpedo, and the Soesterberg with the stern torpedo.
The explosion of the torpedo blew four men overboard and wrecked the starboard lifeboat. Three gunners then abandoned ship on a raft, whilst the rest of the crew left in the port lifeboat. When a headcount was carried out, the men from the engine room were found to be missing. The master and the first mate re-boarded the ship to search for them, but they apparently had been killed on watch below. The master and the first mate then left. The now abandoned Soesterberg remained afloat and drifting, subsequently colliding with the stern of the stricken wreck of the Assyrian. She suddenly turned upright and sank shortly thereafter. Her cargo of pit props came loose as she did so, several falling onto the survivors of the Assyrian, wrecking many of their life rafts. The survivors were able to use the pit props as lifesavers as they awaited rescue. The survivors were picked up by and were landed at Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
. In the meantime one of Soesterberg’s stokers had also survived the sinking and was picked up by a life boat from the , that had previously been sunk by Otto Kretschmer
Otto Kretschmer
Flotilla Admiral Otto Kretschmer was a German U-boat commander in the Second World War and later an admiral in the Bundesmarine. From September 1939 until being captured in March 1941, he sank 47 ships, a total of 274,333 tons. For this he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak...
's . There were six dead and nineteen survivors from Soesterberg.