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D/S Frank Seamans To Frank Seamans on the "Ships starting with F" page. Owner: Rederi A/S Nidaros Built by Sir John Priestman & Co. Ltd., Southwick, Sunderland in 1928. According to this external page, she was delivered in Febr.-1928 to Skibs A/S Igadi (Ivar An. Christensen), Oslo. Owned from 1932 by Skibs A/S Igadi (S. Holter Sørensen & Ivar An. Christensen), Oslo - no name change. From Aug.-1934, Skibs A/S Igadi (S. Holter Sørensen), Oslo, same name. From Aug.-1939, Rederi A/S Nidaros (Geo. Hansen), Oslo, same name. Captain: Ingvald Hegerberg Her voyages are listed on these original images from the Norwegian National Archives:
As can be seen when going to Page 1 above, Frank Seamans was on her way from Hampton Roads to Barbados when war broke out in Norway on Apr. 9-1940. Her 1941 voyages also start on this document.
Departed Paramaribo on May 6-1942 for Trinidad with a cargo of bauxite. Torpedoed (amidships, starboard) by U-162 (Wattenberg) at 02:20 on May 7. All on board went in 2 lifeboats, 11 in the port boat commanded by 1st Mate Kristian Andersen, and 16 in the starboard motorboat commanded by the captain. The 1st mate was asked to wait while the motorboat went around the ship to investigate, and about 40 minutes after the first torpedo had struck a second torpedo hit amidships, starboard side. Frank Seamans broke in 2 and sank, 06 21N 55 38W. At this point the U-boat came over to the motorboat and the captain was ordered on board, however, this proved difficult due to the heavy seas, so the necessary questions were asked with the lifeboat alongside (what ship, tonnage, cargo, destination etc.). They were also asked if they needed anything before the U-boat took off in a northwesterly direction, whereupon the captain's boat went to look for the port lifeboat in order to take it in tow, but it was nowhere to be seen. They remained in the area until daylight, but when the other boat could still not be found, they helped themselves to some extra water and food from another lifeboat that was found nearby before setting a course for Surinam River at 05:45. Around 09:00 a U.S. Army bomber circled over them a few times, dropped some information saying they were about 30 miles from Surinam River, gave them the course, and told them that it would follow behind them. At 11:30 they were told to turn around and head towards a ship astern of them and at 12:00 they were picked up by the Dutch M/S Koningin Emma (Captain J. L. Wiersma), which had also picked up the 11 from the other lifeboat at 09:00 that morning. They were landed at Paramaribo that same afternoon, 19 were taken to a hospital and the others to hotels. It appears that U-162 had also fired another torpedo at Frank Seamans which missed. This was seen from the lifeboat by the 1st mate just before she was struck the second time and sunk. For info, U-162 was also responsible for the attacks on Beth and Thelma later on - follow the links for details. Crew List - No Casualties:
* Julius Skaugerud died when K. G. Meldahl was sunk later that year. Related external links: Back to Frank Seamans on the "Ships starting with F" page. The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "Sjøforklaringer fra 2. verdenskrig", Volume I (Norwegian Maritime Museum) - ref. My sources.
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