D/S Simla

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Then appeared the vessel's chief officer who produced the folowing report about the torpedoing written, according to memory, on board the British Naval Vessel "Heartseaase" and written on British Naval Forms:-

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The chief officer referred in all respects to his extract. Everything was in order on board and all the lifesaving equipment in exellent condition. The vessel had three new lifeboats and a motor lifeboat. The captain was on the bridge when the casualty occurred, they also had a look-out man on the bridge. The 2nd officer was the officer on watch, who was also on the bridge, as well as the helmsman. All of them lost their lives through the casualty with the exception of the look-out man, JØRGEN KIEDING, who was wounded. The chief officer could give no other explanation of the casualty.

He stated that, as far as he know, all the orders from the Commodore had been punctually carried out during the voyage. The witness was acquainted with all the convoy regulations.

All the ship's papers and the log books were lost.

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... as the next witness appeared:- Chief Engineer Wilhelm Antonius Andresen ...

The witness stated that 3rd engineer EINAR MARTINSEN was on watch in the engine room. Everyting was in order (on board) in the engine. He stated that the vessel was proceeding with full pressure in the engine during the last hours before the casualty occurred. The electric degaussing was functioning excellently. The chief engineer was standing on the after deck when the casualty occurred. He stated that every one had lifesaving jacket on and that all the men understood danger was present which contributed to the fact that so comparatively many were saved. He further stated that all lifesaving equipment was in 1st class order. The vessel sank with the bow first and the witness who was standing aft on the after deck threw himself, together with some others, on to the raft. He stated that they went down with the ship in the vortex, but then came up again.

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as the next witness appeared:- 3rd Officer Jens Blom ...

The witness was standing on the after deck together with the engineer when the casualty occurred. The vessel was then proceeding with full speed in the engine. He stated that in accordance with orders from the Commodore the zig-zag course was to be discontinued at 8 o'clock in the evening, ship's time, 9 English time. After his watch he went down on to the after deck. He stated that all the men, as well as the captain, had lifesaving jackets on. When the torpedo came he sought shelter against falling pieces of wreckage behind the steering engine house, and when the vessel went down he threw himself on to the raft and was carried down in the vortex, but then also came up again. The witness stated that the bridge was protected, especially against air attack, and could not give any explanation as to how those missing had been lost. After having been lying for abotu 1/2 an hour in the water he got up on a raft where he found the cook, HARRY HANSEN, who was dead. He could not see any bruises on him and he was of opinion that he must have been drowned. MARTINSEN and PETTERSEN, who were both wounded, were both lying on the raft. The witness stated that there were 52 ships in the convoy after their last rendeznous at sea, and when the witness made the last count he counted 38 ships. There was no gun on board.

The convoy was at first protected by a large auxiliary cruiser, later by 4 naval ships. He stated that everything was in excellent order on board and that the boats were hanging swung out and ready. The weather was fine when the explosion occurred.

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... as the next witness appeared Wireless Operator Helge Høy ...

The witness was sitting on watch in the wireless room on the lower bridge. He had been on watch the whole Saturday and had lifesaving jacket on. When the torpedo struck the vessel he ran out on deck and there he saw that the port lifeboat had disappeared. He then went back to the wireless room and tried the telegraph, but found that the transmitter was out of order, he then ran out on deck again and then he though he could see three men come running down from the upper bridge, but as he was dazzled by the dark night after having been sitting in a lighted room, it was difficult for him to see properly. The witness now jumped into the sea as the vessel had commenced to sink with the bow first and the water had risen to the forward part of the bridge. He swam away from the ship's side, the vessel was then still going ahead, and when the witness was abeam of the stern she suddenly dived under. After having kept himself afloat by swimming he caught sight of the motor lifeboat, which was then full of water, and managed to scramble into it. He thought at first that he was the only one of the ship's crew who was alive, but subsequently the chief officer and several others came to the boat and were picked up. He stated that everything was in order on board and that the lifesaving equipment was in perfect condition.

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... as the next witness appeared:- Buatswain Ove Stensrud ...

The witness was standing on the poop when the casualty occurred an had lifesaving jacket on. He stated that, among othersthings, it was his business daily to inspect the boats and the rafts, and stated that everything was in the best possible order and the equipment according to the regulations. The witness stated that, when the vessel was torpedoed, he went into the steering engine room in order to obtain shelter against falling pieces of wreckage, but he soon ran out again as the vessel quickly commenced to sink and jumped into the sea and swam towards aft away from the ship. The witness got into the lifeboat which had been hanging swung out on the port side. Later on, most of the crew got into that lifeboat and were picked up by an English naval ship.

The witness, who made statement in conformity with the other witnesses, stated that the vessel was proceeding with extinguished lights.

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The chief officer's report was thereafter read out to all the witnesses who all declared themselves in agreement with what had been written therein and had no remarks to make about its contents.

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