.jpg) The ship asBlötberg, with her funnel inWm. H. Müller & Co colours, between 1907 and 1916 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Netherlands | |
| Name |
|
| Namesake | 1907:Blötberget |
| Owner |
|
| Port of registry | Rotterdam |
| Route | 1907:Oxelösund – Rotterdam |
| Builder | Wm Doxford & Sons,Sunderland |
| Yard number | 387 |
| Launched | 15 February 1907 |
| Completed | 30 May 1907 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Sunk byU-53, 8 October 1916 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | turret deck ship |
| Tonnage | 4,835 GRT, 3,102 NRT, 3,102 DWT |
| Length | 394.4 ft (120.2 m) |
| Beam | 51.6 ft (15.7 m) |
| Depth | 23.8 ft (7.3 m) |
| Decks | 1 |
| Installed power | 291NHP, 1,900ihp |
| Propulsion | |
| Speed | 10 knots (19 km/h) |
| Capacity | 341,000 cu ft (9,700 m3) grain; 326,000 cu ft (9,200 m3) bale |
| Crew | 40 |
SSBlommersdijk was aDutch-ownedturret deck ship that was built inEngland in 1907 asBlötberg. In January 1916Holland America Line (NASM) bought her and renamed herBlommersdijk.
In October 1916 aU-boat stopped her in theAtlantic, inspected her cargo, ordered her crew to abandon ship, and sank her.Germany admitted it had been wrong to sink the ship, and paid full compensation.
This was the first of two NASM ships to be calledBlommersdijk. The second was built in 1922, and in 1946 the spelling of her name was anglicised toBlommersdyk.[1]
William Doxford & Sons built the ship inPallion,Sunderland, as yard number 387. She was launched on 15 February 1907. Sources differ as to whether she was completed that March,[2] or on 30 May.[3] Her registered length was 394.4 ft (120.2 m), her beam was 51.6 ft (15.7 m) and her depth was 23.8 ft (7.3 m).[4] Hertonnages were 4,835 GRT, 3,102 NRT and 3,102 DWT. Her holds had capacity for 341,000 cubic feet (9,700 m3) of grain, or 326,000 cubic feet (9,200 m3) of baled cargo.[3] She had five pairs of masts, withderricks to work her cargo holds.
The ship had a singlescrew, driven by a three-cylindertriple-expansion engine built by Doxford. It was rated at 291NHP[4] or 1,900ihp, and gave her a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h).[3]
Blötberg's first owner wasWilliam H. Müller & Co, whoregistered her atRotterdam. Hercode letters were NHBJ.[4] Müller bought the ship to carryiron ore from the port ofOxelösund inSweden. She was named after the Swedish village ofBlötberget, where the ore was mined, 150 miles (240 km) northwest of Oxelösund.
On 27 January 1916 NASM bought two turret deck ships from Müller & Co:Blötberg, and the largerGrängesberg, and renamed themBlommersdijk andBeukelsdijk respectively.[3][5]Blommersdijk's code letters were changed to NHBK. NASM planned to use her to carry grain.[3]
On 8 October 1916Blommersdijk leftNew York carrying 6,000 tons of wheat for the Dutch government, and 400 tons of general cargo, including motor vehicle parts, for the Nederlandsche Overzee Trust Maatschappij. At about 17:00 hrs that afternoon, east of theNantucket Lightship,U-53 orderedBlommersdijk to stop to be inspected.Blommersdijk had orders to proceed viaKirkwall inOrkney.U-53's commander,Hans Rose, wrongly took this as a reason to sink her.[3]
_on_trials%2c_December_1913.jpg)
Blommersdijk's crew was ordered to abandon ship. Aboarding party fromU-53 detonatedscuttling charges aboard her, but she stayed afloat.U-53 then opened fire on her with its two88 mm deck guns, and fired one torpedo at her.Blommersdijk sank at 20:40 hrs, at position40°40′00″N69°36′30″W / 40.66667°N 69.60833°W /40.66667; -69.60833.U-53 leftBlommersdijk's 40 crew members in their lifeboats, and thedestroyerUSS Benham rescued them.[3]
Germany later admitted that Rose had been wrong to sinkBlommersdijk, and paid full compensation for both the ship and her cargo.[3]
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Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in October 1916 | |
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