History | |
---|---|
Name | Birka |
Owner |
|
Port of registry |
|
Builder | Flensburger Schiffbauw-Gesellschaft |
Launched | 23 June 1937 |
Commissioned | 5 September 1940 |
Out of service | 1 June 1943 |
Identification | |
Fate | Struck a mine and sank |
General characteristics | |
Class and type |
|
Tonnage | 1,000 GRT, 508 NRT |
Length | 73.23 metres (240 ft 3 in) |
Beam | 10.39 metres (34 ft 1 in) |
Depth | 3.71 metres (12 ft 2 in) |
Installed power | Compound steam engine, 184nhp |
Propulsion | Single screw propeller |
Birka was a German passenger ship built in 1937. She was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine during the Second World War for use as a hospital ship. She struck a mine and sank in 1943.
The ship was 73.23 metres (240 ft 3 in) long, with a beam of 10.39 metres (34 ft 1 in) and a depth of 3.71 metres (12 ft 2 in). She was powered by a 4-cylinder compound steam engine, which had 2 cylinders each of 37 centimetres (14+9⁄16 in) and 2 cylinders each of 80 centimetres (31+1⁄2 in) diameter by 80 centimetres (31+1⁄2 in) stroke. The engine was built by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft, Flensburg, Germany. It was rated at 184 nhp and drove a single screw propeller. She was assessed at 1,000 GRT, 508 NRT. [1]
Birka was built by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft for Mathies Reederei KG, Hamburg, Germany. [1] She was launched on 23 June 1937. [2] Her port of registry was Hamburrg and the Code Letters DJUF were allocated. [1] On 24 November 1937, she ran aground off the coast of Sweden and was severely damaged. [3] She was refloated the next day and taken in to Stockholm for repairs. [4]
On 5 September 1940, Birka was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine for use as a hospital ship. [5] Allocated to 5 Vorpostengruppe and designated as "Schiff 8", [6] she served in Norwegian waters. On 1 June 1943, she struck a mine and sank in the Altafjord with the loss of 115 lives. [5] The mine had been laid on 6 May by the Soviet submarine L-22. [7] The Stockholms-Tidningen claimed that Birka had been used to carry troops and munitions from Trondheim to Kirkenes in violation of her status as a hospital ship. [8]