MS Oslofjord (1937)

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MS Oslofjord was an ocean liner built in 1938 by A/G Weser Shipbuilders, Bremen, Germany, for Norwegian America Line. She was of 18,673 gross register tons and could carry 860 passengers. She would have an uneventful career until 1939 were two separate incidents happened. One from 27 April 1939, where she collided with an American pilot boat, and another where she struck a mine sinking her.

History
Norway
NameOslofjord
OperatorNorwegian America Line
Port of registryOslo
BuilderDeutsche Schiff- und Maschinenbau, Bremen
Laid down15 May 1936
Launched29 December 1937
AcquiredMay 1938
FateSunk 1941
General characteristics
Tonnage18,673 GRT
Length179.20 m (587 ft 11 in)
Beam22 m (72 ft 2 in)
Draught10.40 m (34 ft 1 in)
Installed power2 x MAN diesel engines
Capacity860 passengers

Career

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Early years

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The 18,673 GRT motor ship was built on 15 May 1936, and launched on 29 December 1937, at Bremer Schiffswerft AG Weser, was 171.75 meters long, 22.37 meters wide, and five decks high. 860 passengers (152 in cabin class, 307 in tourist class, and 401 in third class) and 310 crew members were taken on board. The Oslofjord was powered by four seven-cylinder diesel engines from Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg AG, which acted on two propellers. The transfer to the owners took place in May 1938. The shipping company Den Norske Amerikalinje was founded in 1910 to establish a passenger service between Norway and the United States. Their ships served the Oslo – Kristiansand – Stavanger – Bergen – New York route.[1]

On 27 April 1939, Oslofjord collided with the American 160-foot (48.8 m) pilot boat Sandy Hook in the North Atlantic Ocean west of Sandy Hook, New Jersey, off the Ambrose Lightship at 40°27.556′N 073°49.490′W / 40.459267°N 73.824833°W / 40.459267; -73.824833 (Sandy Hook). Sandy Hook sank in 100 feet (30 m) of water, and Oslofjord rescued all 26 crew members and harbor pilots on board Sandy Hook.[2][3]

World War II

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During World War II, Oslofjord sank after just two years of service on the night of 21–22 January 1941 after hitting a mine in the North Sea off the coast of England of the River Tyne on 1 December 1940.[4][1] Her wreck lies in 15 metres (49 ft) of water at 55°0.17′N 1°23.72′W / 55.00283°N 1.39533°W / 55.00283; -1.39533.

References

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  1. ^ a b Miller, William H. Jr. (1995). Pictorial Encyclopedia of Ocean Liners, 1860-1994. New York: Dover Publications. pp. 92. ISBN 0-486-28137-X.
  2. ^ "Casualty Reports". The Times. No. 48291. London. 28 April 1939. col C, p. 29.
  3. ^ "njscuba.net Sandy Hook - Pilot Boat". Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  4. ^ Lawson, Siri Holm. "M/S Oslofjord". Warsailors.com. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
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