M/S Segundo

Report about the sinking of the M.S. "SEGUNDO" in North Atlantic on the 27th August 1941

The M.S. "SEGUNDO" left Liverpool on the 22nd August in ballast bound for Curacao for bunkers.

On the 26th August, at 23.00 o'clock, the wind suddenly freshened with heavy rain showers. Force of wind 6-7. Direction of wind S.S.E. True course 230. At 23.40 o'clock wind and sea so strong that it was impossible to keep the vessel in position in the convoy. The Captain of the vessel was at once called to the bridge and manoeuvre was carried out so that the vessel was lying about 5 cables on the port side of the convoy and a litttle ahead of same. The weather remained the same during the night and it was with great difficulty that course and speed could be kept. All ballast tanks are full and the after well was also filled. In addition the vessel had 400 tons of sand ballast on board.

On the 27th August, at 3.27 o'clock, a violent crash was heard forward of the bridge and the vessel at once heeled over to port and began to sink by the bow. At the moment of the torpedoing the Captain was down in his cabin. A.O. Torgersen was the Officer on watch. Boatswain O. Enger and ordinary seaman H. Helgesen were on the look-out, and A.B. Seaman H. Lone was at the wheel. About 4 minutes after the torpedoing the whole of the fore deck was under owater and in all 7 minutes elapsed before the vessel disappeared. Both main engines were stopped by 3rd engineer S. Julsen before he left the engine room. It is assumed that the torepdoing struck in NO. 2 hold on the port side. Measures were at once taken to get all the men up on deck and the lifeboats put out. In spite of the heavy sea we succeeded in getting out the starboard lifeboat and the motor boat on the port side, but some of the crew had to jump over board as they were not in time to come with us. Immediately after the boats had got clear of the wreck blue flares were lit in order to attract the attention of the escort to the torpedoing. At 4.12 o'clock one of the lifesaving rafts with carpenter K. Pedersen was picked up by the escort vessel "LULWORTH" and almost at the same time another lifesaving raft with 2nd engineer A. Bruvik. At 5.30 o'clock the starboard lifeboat was picked up with 14 men, and at 5.40 o'clock the port boat with 9 men. At 6.30 o'clock chief Officer A. O. Toergersen was picked up and soon after chief Engeneer S. Pedersen. Both were lying floating on some pieces of wreckage and had lifebelts on.

Of the vessel's crew of 34 men, 27 were saved by H.M.S. "LULWORFTH" and 7 lost their lives, among the latter the Captain of the ship, K. Wilhelmsen. All those who lost their lives were on deck when the vessel sank except steward Lars Mikkelsen and wireless operator Harald Tarnara. Both had their cabins in the saloon house right down on the deck and are assumed to have been killed immediately when the torpedoing occurred. 2nd Engineer A. Bruvik was badly injured in consequence of the loss of the ship. He was at once treated by the ship's Doctor. It was found that his left thigh was broken and otherwise many minor injuries.

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A. O. Torgersen, Chief Officer