M/T Britta
Updated May 19-2011

To Britta on the "Ships starting with B" page.


Source: Bjørn Milde's postcard collection.
Uboat.net has another picture (external link).
Another picture is available on this external page (click in it to enlarge).

Final Fate - 1939 (Norway still neutral):

Torpedoed and sunk by U-47 (Prien) on Dec. 6-1939, 45 n. miles southwest of Longships Light, when on a voyage from Antwerp to Curaçao. 6 died.

The following men are commemorated at the Memorial for Seamen in Stavern, Norway:
Oiler Johnny Herlov Johansen, Chief Engineer Wilhelm Johansen, Carpenter Nikolay Alfred Nilsen, Ordinary Seaman Rolf Kolbjørn Pahle, Deck Boy Karl Gustav Petterson, and Assistant (engine room) Finn Hafton Warenius.

According to Uboat.net, the 25 survivors were picked up by the Belgian trawler Memlinc. Among the suvivors was Captain Lauritz Knudsen, who later joined Barbro, and died when that ship was sunk - follow the link for more info.

For info, U-47 was also responsible for the attacks on Lenda, Gro and Borgland - follow the links for details. The U-boat was lost with all hands in the spring of 1941 - ref. link at the end of this page.

Related external links:
Stavern Memorial Commemorations

U-47 | Günther Prien

Back to Britta on the "Ships starting with B" page.

Other ships by this name:
Norway had another ship by this name after the war, ex Liberty Ship Henry Wells, built 1943, 7176 gt. Became Britta for Rederi A/S Mascot, Oslo in 1947 (Arthur H. Mathiesen, managers). Came under the Panamanian flag as Challenger in 1951 (Western Shipping Corp, New York managers), then the Costa Rican flag as Planet in 1956 (Frinton Shipbrokers, London). Placed under the Liberian flag in 1958, managed from 1964 by Pegasus Ocean Services, London. Broken up in Japan in 1966, having arrived Onomichi on Oct. 26. Another Britta was built for Arthur H. Mathiesen in 1953; the Clydebuilt Ships website has details on this ship. Also, the company had a ship by this name in 1967 and another in 1974. Lillesand Sjømannsforening has more on these ships (both links are external). Additionally, Norway had a Britta in WW I, built 1889, 2061 gt - torpedoed and sunk by UC 69 in the Bay of Biscay on March 30-1917.

There was also a Danish Britta, built 1921, torpedoed and sunk on March 25-1940, also by U-47.

The text on this page was compiled with the help of: Roger W. Jordan - and misc.