Actually there are 4 attacks concerning NORBURG but only 3 that are genuine.

1. At 0842/10 September 1941 TORBAY fired 3 torpedoes at NORBURG which was on passage from Suda to Heraklion (with SANTA FE and escorted by patrol boat 12 V 4 and aircraft from Fliegergruppe 126) in position 35°29 N/ 24°13 E. She missed but followed the convoy which arrived at Heraklion at 1400 on the same day.

2. At 2003/10 TORBAY fired a torpedo at NORBURG which was now lying at quayside, the torpedo blew a hole 12 m x 3.5 m in no.3 hold. 3 crew members were slightly wounded. This is confirmed by German records although Hezlet does not credit TORBAY with this success. NORBURG was badly damaged but reported to be ready to be sailed to Piraeus by 25 May 1942.

3. 1749/10 November 1941 the Greek submarine GLAUCOS fired 2 torpedoes at a range of 1300 meters at the Tug HERKULES proceeding with tank lighter SHELL 17 in 35°25.2' N/25°03.2' E (north of Heraklion). Both torpedoes missed, 1 exploding on the coast. The Germans recovered 1 Whitehead torpedo and correctly identified the culprit as a Greek submarine. There is no evidence that NORBURG was involved at all.

4. 1144/24 November 1941 TRIUMPH fired 1 torpedo at a range of 4000 yds at tug HERKULES in Heraklion harbour. She scored a hit which sank the tug as well as ELENE VERNIKOS (105 GRT) which was near by. One minute later she fired a 2nd torpedo at 5000 yds at a 2000 GRT merchant vessel in harbour (which was very probably NORBURG) but apparently missed. German records do not mention NORBURG being hit again unless I have missed something.

Platon Alexiades