SS Dettifoss explained

-- commercial vessels --> Ship Image: SS Dettifoss.jpg Ship Image Size: 400px Ship Caption: SS Dettifoss. Ship Name: Dettifoss Ship Owner: Eimskipafelag Hf. Ship Registry: Reykjavík, Iceland Ship Builder: Frederikshavns Vaerft & Flydedok A/S Ship Launched: 24 July 1930 Ship Completed: 1930 Ship Identification: TFDA Ship Fate: Torpedoed and sunk 21 February 1945 Ship Type: Cargo ship Ship Length: 72.2m (236.9feet) Ship Beam: 11m (36feet) Ship Depth: 6.4m (21feet) Ship Power: Compound expansion engine Ship Propulsion: Screw propeller Ship Speed: 10 knots Ship Capacity: 44 Passengers and Crew

SS Dettifoss was an Icelandic Cargo Ship that was Torpedoed by in the Irish Sea 25nmi out of Belfast, United Kingdom (55.05°N -34°W), while she was travelling from New York, United States to Belfast, United Kingdom and later to Reykjavík, Iceland.

Construction

Dettifoss was constructed in 1930 at the Frederikshavns Vaerft & Flydedok A/S shipyard in Frederikshavn, Denmark.

The ship was 72.2m (236.9feet) long, with a beam of 11m (36feet) and a depth of 6.4m (21feet). The ship was assessed at . She had a Compound expansion engine driving a single screw propeller and the engine was rated at 124 nhp.

Sinking

On 21 February 1945, Dettifoss was on a voyage in Convoy UR 155 from New York, United States to Belfast, United Kingdom and later to Reykjavík, Iceland with a general cargo of 1300 tons. When she was torpedoed by the at 08.39 hours in the Irish Sea 25nmi out of Belfast. Dettifoss sank within 7 minutes resulting in the death of 12 crew members and 3 passengers. The 29 survivors (18 crew and 11 passengers) were picked up an hour after the sinking by and were then taken to Scotland and later to Iceland. The sinking of Dettifoss was a harsh blow so soon after the loss of . All public activities in Iceland were cancelled on 24 February 1945.^[1]

Wreck

The wreck lies at (55.05°N -34°W).

Notes and References

1. Web site: Dettifoss . uboat.net . 7 November 2015.