Hello Rune, Axel & Theo,

There is a mystery waiting to be solved here. I spoke to an expert on Finnish vessels, Erik Hag. According to him the 163 grt vessel I mentioned in an earlier message was sunk by Soviet aircraft in late June, 1944.

I then asked Erik about the signal letters OFDV that Rune mentioned, and lo and behold he found another Hertta. This vessel was built in Nakskov in 1917, 352 grt (very close to 343). Previous names like Rune wrote except that Jirana might have been Jirina. In 1929-30 this vessel was registered in Chechslovakia. A man named Erwin Spitzer was involved. She seems to have been used for smuggling. Became Finnish in 1939, sold from Estonia to Hertta OY in Raumo (reg.nr 537).

On 06.10.41 the Hertta was rammed in Kalmarsund by the German steamer Elin of Bremen and sank. The wreck is still there and has been dived many times.

btw, there are articles about this 'larger' Hertta in Strandgut, don't know which issues though.

Regards Jan-Olof