SSVigrid

This article is about the Norwegian First World War cargo ship. For other uses, seeVigrid (disambiguation).

History
Norway
Name	Vigrid
Namesake	Vígríðr- the large field foretold to host a battle between the forces of theNorse godsand the forces of thejötunnSurtras part of the events ofRagnarök.
Owner	Anton Barth von der Lippe(1915–1917) D/S A/S Vigrid(1917)
Port of registry	Tønsberg(1915–1917) Bergen(1917)
Builder	Bergens Mekaniske VerkstedinBergen,Norway
Yard number	191
Launched	29 October 1915
Identification	Code letters: MLRT
Fate	Torpedoed and sunk by the German U-boatU-95on 31 December 1917
General characteristics
Type	Cargo ship
Tonnage	1,617GRT 951NRT
Length	74.5 m (244 ft)
Beam	11.5 m (38 ft)
Draught	15.8 ft (4.8 m)
Installed power	885 ihp
Propulsion	Triple-expansion steam engine

SSVigridwas a Norwegian steam-powered cargo ship built in 1915. Sailing during theFirst World War,she was torpedoed and sunkwithout warningby aGermanU-boaton 31 December 1917.

Construction

A 1,617gross register tons(951net register tons) vessel, she was built by the shipyardBergens Mekaniske Verkstedin theWestern Norwegianport city ofBergen.Having yard number 191, she was launched on 29 October 1915 and completed the next month.Vigridwas powered by a single triple-expansion 885 ihp steam turbine engine. She measured 74.5 metres (244 ft)between perpendiculars,with abeamof 11.5 metres (38 ft) and adraughtof 15.8 feet (4.8 m). After completion she was assigned thecode lettersMLRT.

First World War

Vigridsailed during the First World War, with H.M. Jensen as hercaptain.She belonged to the company of ship-brokerAnton Barth von der Lippein the port cityTønsberg,until she was bought by ship-broker Johan Waage's companyD/S A/S Vigridof Bergen in August 1917.

Although Norway remained officially neutral throughout the First World War, her large fleet of merchant ships, over 2,000 strong,served a vital rolein keeping the United Kingdom with supplies. The Norwegian merchant navy suffered heavy losses to German U-boats during the war, losing close to half its ships, with an official death toll of 1,892 sailors.

The shaded areas show the unrestricted submarine warfare zone announced by Germany on 1 February 1917.Vigridwas sunk in theEnglish Channel,well within the zone.

Sinking

See also:U-boat Campaign (World War I)

On 31 December 1917 she was attacked and torpedoed without warning by the German U-boatU-95,commanded byKapitänleutnantAthalwin Prinz.U-95belonged to the German4th U-boat Flotilla.Vigridsank in theEnglish Channelsome 10 nautical miles (19 km) west-north-west of Rundelstone Buoy, at50°03′N05°55′W.At the time of her sinking, she wasen routefrom the port ofBarryinWalestoRoueninFrancewith a cargo of 2,102 tons ofcoal.Five members of the crew were lost, while the captain and thirteen other crewmen survived the loss of the ship and landed atPenzanceinCornwall.Three of the sailors lost onVigridwere Swedish citizens, the other two Norwegians.

Aftermath

On 16 January 1918, 16 days after sinkingVigrid,U-95was lost with all 36 crew members to unknown causes nearHardelotin France. Before being lost,U-95had managed to sink a total of 14 ships and damage another three vessels during the course of the six patrols she carried out in her career.

Bibliography

• Derry, T.K. (1952).Butler, J.R.M(ed.).The campaign in Norway.History of the Second World War: Campaigns Series (1st ed.). London:Her Majesty's Stationery Office.
• Hermansen, Max, ed. (2008).Hardt Styrbord: Glimt fra norsk sjøkrigshistorie(in Norwegian). Oslo: Sjømilitære Samfunds forlag.ISBN978-82-997703-0-9.